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楠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
楠nánMachilus nanmun, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #27504, Very Hard
楠nánChinese cedarunknown, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #27504, Very Hard
楠nánChinese giant redwoodunknown, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #27504, Very Hard
nán(nan2) T2
  1. 1Machilus nanmu
  2. 2Chinese cedar
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

楠(枏)nán(nan2)

The character '楠' (nán) refers primarily to the Machilus nanmu tree, which is valued for its high-quality timber. It is also associated with the Chinese cedar and the Chinese giant redwood, both important in construction and traditional medicine. This character highlights the significance of these trees in Chinese culture, particularly in terms of their durability and beauty.

Strokes13Radical木Frequency#27504DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, trees like the '楠' are often associated with stability and longevity, reflecting values of resilience and strength. These trees are frequently mentioned in poetry and literature, symbolizing a deep connection to nature.

Memory Tip

Think of '楠' as a tree standing tall, with the left side resembling the trunk and the right side suggesting branches reaching outwards. Visualize a giant, majestic tree (like a cedar) that provides shelter and strength, echoing the pronunciation 'nán' with the sound of the wind rustling through its leaves.

Meanings of 楠

nán(nan2)
1Machilus nanmu
2Chinese cedar
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 楠

楠Simplified
枏Traditional
13Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 楠

JasonAmy

Podcast: 楠

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AI Study Notes for 楠

Usage Notes

While '楠' specifically refers to certain types of trees, learners might confuse it with other wood-related characters. It is usually used in more formal contexts, particularly in discussions about timber or nature. Be cautious of using the wrong tone, as 'nán' should not be confused with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although '楠' is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for students interested in botany or traditional Chinese architecture. Focus on recognizing related terms in nature and construction, as they often share similar radicals or components.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce '楠' as 'nǎn' instead of the correct 'nán'. Another common mistake is using it improperly in casual conversations, where simpler terms for trees might be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 楠

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Etymology of 楠

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 南 represents the sound. Simplified form of 枏.

Memory Hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)南
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 楠

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 南 represents the sound. Simplified form of 枏.

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half南 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 楠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 楠?

Decomposition of 楠

IDS Structure⿰木南
楠Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
南Nan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 楠?

How to say Machilus nanmu in Chinese

“Machilus nanmu” in Chinese is楠nán

The character '楠' (nán) refers primarily to the Machilus nanmu tree, which is valued for its high-quality timber. It is also associated with the Chinese cedar and the Chinese giant redwood, both important in construction and traditional medicine. This character highlights the significance of these trees in Chinese culture, particularly in terms of their durability and beauty.

When to use 楠

While '楠' specifically refers to certain types of trees, learners might confuse it with other wood-related characters. It is usually used in more formal contexts, particularly in discussions about timber or nature. Be cautious of using the wrong tone, as 'nán' should not be confused with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce '楠' as 'nǎn' instead of the correct 'nán'. Another common mistake is using it improperly in casual conversations, where simpler terms for trees might be more appropriate.

Write 楠

楠

Practice writing 楠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 楠

Words Containing This Character6
楠nánMachilus nanmu
王楠Wang Nan (1978-), female PRC table tennis player, Olympic medalist
楠木Phoebe zhennan
楠竹moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), used as timber etc
楠格哈尔省Nangarhar province of Afghanistan楠格哈爾省
楠梓区Nanzi or Nantzu district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市[Gāo​xióng​shì], south Taiwan楠梓區
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 楠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 楠

Besides its use in construction, '楠' is often referenced in traditional medicine for its healing properties.

Jason Recommends

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