茶 from HSK Level 1 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 茶 (chá) for "tea" has a rich history and etymology. It is composed of two parts: the radical 木 (mù) meaning "wood" or "tree," and the phonetic component 余 (yú). The radical indicates that tea is a plant, while the phonetic component gives a hint to its pronunciation.The earliest known form of the character 茶 appears in the Shuowen Jiezi, a Chinese dictionary compiled in the 2nd century CE. In this dictionary, the character is defined as "a bitter herb that can be used to make a drink." The character 茶 is also found in other early Chinese texts, such as the Shijing (Book of Songs) and the Liji (Book of Rites).Over time, the character 茶 has undergone some changes in its form and meaning. In modern Chinese, it is used to refer to the tea plant, the leaves of the tea plant, and the drink made from these leaves. The character is also used in other languages, such as Japanese (cha), Korean (cha), and Vietnamese (trà).The etymology of the character 茶 provides insights into the history and cultural significance of tea in China. The character's association with wood and bitterness reflects the early understanding of tea as a bitter plant that grows on trees. As tea became more popular and its cultivation spread, the character 茶 came to represent the plant and the drink that we know today.