How to Write 树 (shù) — Meaning “tree”

Imagine a tree (木) with a pair of shoes hanging from its branches — the word 'shoe' sounds like shù. This silly picture links the sound to the meaning and the shape of the character. You can also think of the right side 对 as two things facing each other, like branches facing opposite directions.

Start with the left radical 木: write the horizontal stroke first, then the vertical, then the left-falling stroke, and finally the right-falling stroke. For the right side 对, write the top part 又 (horizontal, left-falling, right-falling) then add 寸 below (horizontal, vertical hook, dot). A common mistake is making the left 木 too wide — keep it narrow so the right side fits well.

树 means 'tree', while 杆 (gān) means 'pole' or 'rod', and 杈 (chā) means 'fork' (like a tree branch fork). Visually, 树 has 对 on the right, 杆 has 干 on the right, and 杈 has 叉 on the right. The different right-side components change both the pronunciation and the meaning.

树 is used just like the English word 'tree' — for example, 大树 means 'big tree' and 种树 means 'to plant trees'. In Chinese culture, trees are symbols of growth and strength, and there is a special holiday called 植树节 (Arbor Day) for planting trees. The idiom 树大招风 ('a tall tree catches the wind') warns that famous people often attract criticism.

Common words containing 树 include: 大树 (dà shù) — Big tree; 种树 (zhòng shù) — To plant trees.; 树林 (shù lín) — Woods.