Lesson 10

Question 1

tree
[207]

Answer 1

木

A pictograph of a tree

*P: tree, wood/pole, wooden pole

Question 2

grove
[208]

Answer 2

林

Learn this character in connection to the last (207). “A grove is a small cluster of trees.”

*tree, tree

Question 3

forest
[209]

Answer 3

森

“A forest is a large expanse of trees.”

*tree, tree, tree

Question 4

Japanese Judas-tree
[210]

Answer 4

桂

“Using the primitives as our guide, we define it [the Japanese Judas-tree] as a tree with ivy growing down its branches”.

*tree, ivy

Question 5

Oak
[211]

Answer 5

柏

“Oak” is a three-letter word starting with O. So is “old”. And what do we often associate with old people? White hair of course!

*tree, white

Question 6

frame
[212]

Answer 6

枠

The frame of a picture is made of wood. At each corner of the frame, the wood forms a 90-degree angle, hence the presence of the numbers 9 and 10.

*tree/wood, nine, ten

Question 7

treetops
[213]

Answer 7

梢

“As the days grow shorter, or so the northern European myth goes, the fear grows that the sun will take its leave of us all together, abandoning the world to total darkness. Fixing candles to the branches of evergreen trees, it was believed, would lure the sun back”. This custom of having a lighted tree eventually became part of our Christmas practices. This story should “help to fix the image of climbing high up into the treetops to fix candles on the tree.”

*tree, candle