柳
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: willow
💡 Willow tree with drooping branches: think '柳' as '泪' (tears) for sad farewells.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
As an archaeologist, I uncover that 柳 (liǔ) originally depicts a tree with drooping branches, the willow. In ancient China, willows symbolized parting and longing, as branches were given to departing friends. The character combines the radical 木 (tree) with 卯 (a phonetic component meaning 'seen' or 'opening'), evoking the tree's early spring buds.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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