How to Write 桕 (jiù) — Meaning “Tallow tree”

Picture a tallow tree (木) whose seeds are pressed in a mortar (臼) to make oil. The right part 臼 looks like a container with a pestle, reminding you that the tree's fruit is crushed for tallow. This visual link helps connect the shape to the meaning "tallow tree."

The left radical 木 is narrow and tall, while the right component 臼 is wider and shorter. Write 木 first with a straight vertical stroke, then the 臼 part — make sure the bottom horizontal stroke of 臼 is long and stable. A common mistake is making the 臼 part too tall, which throws off the balance.

桕 (tallow tree) has 臼 (mortar) on the right, while 杪 (miǎo, treetop) has 少 (few/small) and 杭 (háng, boat or Hangzhou) has 亢 (kàng, high). Visually, 桕's right side looks like a square container, 杪 has a small "少" with a dot, and 杭 has "亢" with a horizontal stroke and a hook.

桕 appears mainly in the word 乌桕 (wū jiù), the Chinese tallow tree, which is planted for its autumn foliage and seeds. The seeds produce 桕油 (tallow oil), historically used to make 桕烛 (tallow candles). This tree is culturally appreciated in Chinese gardens and poetry for its bright red leaves in fall.

Common words containing 桕 include: 乌桕 (wū jiù) — Chinese tallow tree; 桕油 (jiù yóu) — Tallow oil; 桕烛 (jiù zhú) — Tallow candle.