棵 kē measure word for trees and plants
How to remember 棵: 木 tree + 果 fruit = measure word for trees and plants. Pointing at the tree heavy with fruit, the Chinese teacher tells the class that this is the measure word for trees and plants.
Component breakdown
棵 = 木 tree + 果 fruit
- 木 tree
- 果 fruit
Pointing at the tree heavy with fruit, the Chinese teacher tells the class that this is the measure word for trees and plants.
How it is used
- A measure word for plants/trees - 一棵树 (yì kē shù) a tree, 三棵草 (sān kē cǎo) three blades of grass.
- Use 棵 for rooted, standing plants; contrast 朵 (duǒ) for individual flowers and 片 (piàn) for leaves.
- Don't confuse with the homophone 颗 (kē), the measure word for small round things (颗 for pearls, seeds, hearts).
Example sentences
- 这棵树有三米高。 Zhè kē shù yǒu sān mǐ gāo.This tree is three meters tall.