树

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 树 (shù) for "tree" is a pictograph that depicts a tree with branches and leaves. The earliest known form of the character, found in oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE), shows a simple drawing of a tree with a trunk and branches. Over time, the character became more stylized, and the modern form was established by the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).The character 树 is composed of two parts: the radical 木 (mù), which means "wood" or "tree," and the phonetic component 殳 (shū), which is a pictograph of a weapon. The radical 木 indicates the semantic category of the character, while the phonetic component 殳 provides a clue to its pronunciation.The character 树 has a rich history and has been used in Chinese literature and poetry for centuries. It is often used to symbolize strength, resilience, and growth. For example, the famous Chinese poem "The Song of Everlasting Regret" by Bai Juyi (772–846 CE) contains the line "The trees in the courtyard are evergreen, but people do not remain the same." This line uses the image of the evergreen tree to symbolize the enduring nature of love and loss.The character 树 is also used in many Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 一木不成林 (yī mù bù chéng lín), which literally means "one tree does not make a forest," is used to express the idea that a single person cannot accomplish great things alone. Another proverb, 树大招风 (shù dà zhāo fēng), which literally means "a big tree attracts the wind," is used to warn people that those who are too successful or powerful may attract jealousy and criticism.The character 树 is a versatile and important character in the Chinese language. It is a reminder of the deep connection between Chinese culture and nature, and it continues to be used to express a wide range of ideas and emotions.