核 hé core
core; kernel; pit; nucleus; nuclear; to check
How to remember 核: 木 tree + 亥 pig = core. Under the apple tree the farmer's pig eats every fallen apple right down to the core.
Component breakdown
核 = 木 tree + 亥 pig
- 木 tree
- 亥 pig
Under the apple tree the farmer's pig eats every fallen apple right down to the core.
How it is used
- Core/nucleus - 核心 (héxīn) the core/nucleus (核心问题 the central issue).
- Second thread: to check/verify carefully - 核实 (héshí) to verify, 审核 (shěnhé) to review/audit, 核对 (héduì) to cross-check.
- Also 'nuclear': 核能 (hénéng) nuclear energy, 核武器 nuclear weapons.
- Concrete sense = pit/kernel: 核桃 (hétao) walnut. Note colloquial reading hú for a fruit pit (桃核儿).