How to Write 杏 (xìng) — Meaning “Apricot”

Think of the top part 木 as a tree and the bottom 口 as a big round apricot sitting under the tree. You can imagine saying "Ah, the tree has a mouthful of apricots!" This visual helps you link the shape to the meaning.

The radical 木 on top should be written with a horizontal stroke that extends left and right, and the vertical stroke goes straight down. The bottom 口 must be slightly narrower than the top 木, and its top line should align with the middle of the 木's vertical stroke — do not make the 口 too wide or too low.

未 (wèi, "not yet") has a longer top horizontal stroke and a shorter bottom stroke, while 末 (mò, "end") has a longer bottom stroke. In contrast, 杏 (xìng) has a 木 (tree) radical on top and a 口 (mouth) below, so it looks like a tree with a fruit, not a single vertical line with crossing horizontals.

杏 is used in words like 杏子 (xìng zi, apricot fruit), 杏仁 (xìng rén, almond or apricot kernel), and 杏树 (xìng shù, apricot tree). In Chinese culture, apricot blossoms symbolize feminine beauty and were traditionally associated with the medical profession — the term 杏林 (xìng lín) refers to a doctor's practice.

Common words containing 杏 include: 杏子 (xìng zi) — Apricot; 杏仁 (xìng rén) — Almond; apricot kernel; 杏树 (xìng shù) — Apricot tree.