棵 (kē) - A measure word for trees, plants, and certain & classifier for individual plants.

棵Tone 1

kē ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

棵 · kē

A measure word for trees, plants, and certain upright objects;

classifier for individual plants.

A measure word for trees, plants, and certainclassifier for individual plants.

Usage highlights

A treeA plantA cabbageA saplingA large treeAn ancient tree

Synonyms

  • 株— also a measure word for plants, often interchangeable with 棵

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There is a big tree in the yard (院子里有一棵大树).
  • She planted a rose bush (她种了一棵玫瑰).
  • This is a young sapling (这是一棵小树苗).
  • We need to buy several cabbage plants (我们需要买几棵白菜).

Collocations

  • A tree(一棵树)
  • A plant(一棵植物)
  • A cabbage(一棵白菜)
  • A sapling(一棵树苗)
  • A large tree(一棵大树)
  • An ancient tree(一棵古树)

Idioms

  • Not a single blade of grass grows (寸草不生) - Note: does not contain 棵 but related to plant absence
  • A towering tree catches the wind (树大招风) - Note: does not contain 棵 but related to trees

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used specifically as a classifier for individual plants, trees, and vegetables that grow as discrete units.
  • Reflects the Chinese linguistic tradition of having specific measure words for different categories of objects.
  • Common in agricultural contexts and descriptions of nature.

FAQ