树木 (shù mù) — tree | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

树木 is the formal, written-style word for 'tree(s)', used in statements about urban greening, nature, or policy. Use 树 in everyday speech.

noun

tree

Measure word · 棵

Easily confused

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

木mùwood or tree

树 and 木 both refer to trees or woody plants; together they name trees collectively.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樹; 树 is its simplified writing.

木尌樹

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

尌

尌shù樹shù

Same sound today

Originally 尌, 'to plant a tree', was written alone; the traditional form 樹 adds 木, 'tree', to it to differentiate.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

木 is drawn as a tree, with branches above and roots below.

Appears in