How to Write 枇 (pí) — Meaning “loquat (used in 枇杷)”

Think of a loquat tree (木) with two people (比) standing next to it, comparing the fruits. The 'two people' shape of 比 helps you recall the sound pí, similar to 'pee' but with a different tone.

Write the left radical 木 first, making it narrow so 比 fits well. The right side 比 starts with a horizontal stroke, then a vertical lift, a left-falling stroke, and finally a vertical hook. A common mistake is making the right side too wide or forgetting the hook on the last stroke.

枇 has 比 on the right and means 'loquat', while 朱 (zhū) has a short horizontal line through the middle of 木 and means 'vermilion red'. 朴 (pǔ) has 卜 on the right and means 'simple' or 'plain'. Visually, 枇's right side looks like two people side by side, whereas 朱 and 朴 have different right components.

枇 appears almost only in the word 枇杷 (pí pá, loquat fruit) and related terms like 枇杷露 (loquat syrup medicine) and 枇杷叶 (loquat leaf used in herbal remedies). This character is rare and not in HSK, but loquat is a popular fruit in China and the leaf is used in traditional cough syrups.

Common words containing 枇 include: 枇杷 (pí pá) — loquat; 枇杷露 (pí pá lù) — loquat syrup (liquid medicine); 枇杷叶 (pí pá yè) — loquat leaf.