shāo

tip of branch

HSK 6 11 strokes
Stroke order animation for 梢

Words with this Character

Meaning and Usage

The character "" specifically refers to the tip or end of a tree branch. It is often used in natural descriptions involving trees, plants, or scenes in nature.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see "" in contexts describing where birds perch, where fruits grow, or how wind affects the upper parts of trees. It emphasizes the very end part of a branch rather than the whole branch.

Collocations and Patterns

  • (shù shāo): tree branch tip, commonly used to describe the uppermost part of a tree.
  • (shāo shàng): on the tip, used to specify location.

Usage Notes

"" is a noun and is not used as a verb or adjective. It is more literary and formal than simply saying "" (branch). Avoid confusing it with "" (shāo), which means "a little" or "somewhat" but sounds similar.

Summary

Use "" when you want to highlight the very end of a branch, especially in descriptive or literary contexts. It helps create vivid imagery in natural scenes.

Example Sentences

树梢上停着一只小鸟。

Shù shāo shàng tíng zhe yī zhī xiǎo niǎo.

A small bird is perched on the tip of the tree branch.

风吹动了树梢,发出沙沙的声音。

Fēng chuī dòng le shù shāo, fā chū shā shā de shēng yīn.

The wind moved the tree tips, making a rustling sound.

他伸手摘下了树梢上的果子。

Tā shēn shǒu zhāi xià le shù shāo shàng de guǒ zi.

He reached out and picked the fruit from the tip of the branch.