How to Write 榕 (róng) — Meaning “Banyan”

Imagine a banyan tree (木) that has a big room (容) inside its trunk because it is so massive. The right part 容 looks like a roof (宀) over a valley (谷), helping you recall that this tree can "contain" a whole space.

Write the left 木 first: horizontal stroke, vertical, then left-falling and right-falling. Then write the right 容: first the roof 宀, then 谷 (eight strokes). A common mistake is making the right part too wide or mistaking 容 for 谷 without the roof, so keep the roof clear and balanced.

All share the 木 radical, but the right parts differ: 榕 has 容 (banyan), 棉 has 绵 (cotton), and 棋 has 其 (chess). Visually, 容 is narrower than 绵, and 其 has a different shape. Meaning-wise, 榕 refers to a banyan tree, while 棉 means cotton and 棋 means chess or board game.

榕 is used to name the banyan tree, especially in southern China where these trees are common. Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian, is often called 榕城 (Róng Chéng, 'Banyan City') because of its many banyan trees, and the tree is a cultural symbol of strength and community gathering.

Common words containing 榕 include: 榕树 (róng shù) — Banyan tree; 大榕树 (dà róng shù) — Large banyan tree; 榕城 (róng chéng) — Banyan City (Fuzhou).