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槐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
槐huáilocust treenr, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #40315, Very Hard
槐huáiChinese scholar tree (Sophora japonica)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #40315, Very Hard
槐huáiJapanese pagoda treeunknown, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #40315, Very Hard
huái(huai2) T2
  1. 1locust tree
  2. 2Chinese scholar tree (Sophora japonica)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

槐huái(huai2)

槐 (huái) refers to the locust tree, specifically the Chinese scholar tree or the Japanese pagoda tree. This tree is valued for its shade and its beautiful flowers, often found in parks and along streets in China. The character can also symbolize resilience and endurance due to the tree's hardiness in various environments.

Strokes13Radical木Frequency#40315DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the locust tree is often associated with longevity and stability, making it a common choice for planting near temples and schools for its auspicious symbolism.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise scholar (huái) sitting under a large, leafy locust tree, studying ancient texts. The character 槐 has a tree radical (木) on the left, representing its nature as a tree, while the right side can be visualized as a scholar's scroll, linking the character directly to wisdom and learning.

Meanings of 槐

huái(huai2)
1locust tree
2Chinese scholar tree (Sophora japonica)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 槐

槐Simplified
13Strokes
木Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 槐

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Podcast: 槐

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AI Study Notes for 槐

Usage Notes

槐 is used primarily in formal contexts, such as literature and botany. Common mistakes include confusing it with other tree characters like 树 (shù), which is a more general term for 'tree.' Remember that 槐 specifically refers to a type of tree.

HSK Study Tips

Although 槐 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to topics about nature and plants, which are prevalent in lower levels. Focus on recognizing tree-related characters and how they often signify cultural or historical importance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 槐 with similar characters like 树 (shù), leading to incorrect contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢槐' (I like locust trees) is correct when talking about this specific tree, but using 树 in place of 槐 would be incorrect if specifying the type.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 槐

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Etymology of 槐

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 鬼 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

tree

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 槐

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 鬼 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half鬼 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 槐? 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 槐?

Decomposition of 槐

IDS Structure⿰木鬼
槐Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
鬼gui3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 槐?

How to say locust tree in Chinese

“locust tree” in Chinese is槐huái

槐 (huái) refers to the locust tree, specifically the Chinese scholar tree or the Japanese pagoda tree. This tree is valued for its shade and its beautiful flowers, often found in parks and along streets in China. The character can also symbolize resilience and endurance due to the tree's hardiness in various environments.

When to use 槐

槐 is used primarily in formal contexts, such as literature and botany. Common mistakes include confusing it with other tree characters like 树 (shù), which is a more general term for 'tree.' Remember that 槐 specifically refers to a type of tree.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 槐 with similar characters like 树 (shù), leading to incorrect contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢槐' (I like locust trees) is correct when talking about this specific tree, but using 树 in place of 槐 would be incorrect if specifying the type.

Write 槐

槐

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 槐

Words Containing This Character7
槐huáiJapanese pagoda tree
洋槐black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia)
槐树huáishùlocust tree (Sophora japonica)槐樹
刺槐false acacia
槐荫区Huaiyin district of Ji'nan city 濟南市|济南市[Jǐ​nán​shì], Shandong槐蔭區
指桑骂槐fig. to scold sb indirectly指桑罵槐
国槐locust tree (Sophora japonica)國槐
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 槐 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 槐

槐 means 'locust tree' or 'Chinese scholar tree' in English.

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