![Pictographs are understandable universally, like this character for "tree." (Image: Wikipedia)](http://www.radio86.co.uk/system/files/images/_-order_0.gif "Pictographs are understandable universally, like this character for "tree." (Image: Wikipedia)")
Pictographs are understandable universally, like this character for "tree." (Image: Wikipedia)木 mù = tree
20th October 2006, 12:06 GMT
[Click for a bigger view]Pictographs are understandable universally, like this character for "tree." (Image: Wikipedia)
Pictographs are understandable universally, like this character for "tree." (Image: Wikipedia)木 mù stands for “a tree” in Chinese, and it is very obviously a pictogram, a picture of a tree.
By drawing two trees, we get 林 lín, which means forest. 林 Lín is also a Chinese surname. Adding one more tree makes a 森 林 sēnlin, even a bigger forest! 森 sēn also describes something dark and gloomy, like a dense forest could be.
Here we see the beauty of using pictographs – they are understandable universally and the method of multiplying and combining creates many extended meanings.
As we combine a picture of a person, 人 rén, with a tree, 木mù ，we end up with 休 xīu. A man is leaning on a tree - he is having a rest, 休 xīu!
Author: Terhi Mikkolainen
Story tools:
Top stories
Chinese characters
The taste of spring
Only the most tender spring buds and leaves are used to make our West Lake Long Jing green tea. That's why they were picked before the 20th of April last year from the...
Read more »
He Zhenliang and China's Olympic Dream
This book was written by He Zhenliang's wife Liang Lijuan, a senior journalist from the People's Daily. He Zhenliang, known as China's Mr. Olympics, is the honorary president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, former vice...
Read more »
