Learn a Chinese Character - 果

1. Character Basics

Radical: 木/mù (wood), 田/tián (field)

Stroke Count: 8 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Guǒ (Third tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Fruit

Extended Meaning: Result; outcome; consequence; indeed; really

Additional Meaning: Used in various idioms and expressions to describe something concrete or definite

4. Common Words

• 水果 (shuǐ guǒ) - Fruit

  我每天都吃水果。(Wǒ měi tiān dōu chī shuǐ guǒ.)

  I eat fruit every day.

• 结果 (jié guǒ) - Result; outcome

  这次考试的结果很好。(Zhè cì kǎo shì de jié guǒ hěn hǎo.)

  The result of this exam is very good.

• 果然 (guǒ rán) - Indeed; as expected

  他果然没有来。(Tā guǒ rán méi yǒu lái.)

  He didn't come, as expected.

• 果汁 (guǒ zhī) - Fruit juice

  我想喝一杯果汁。(Wǒ xiǎng hē yī bēi guǒ zhī.)

  I want to drink a glass of fruit juice.

• 苹果 (píng guǒ) - Apple

  这是一个红苹果。(Zhè shì yī gè hóng píng guǒ.)

  This is a red apple.

5. Grammar & Usage

As a Noun:

• Used to refer to fruits or the result of something.
• Commonly combined with other characters to form compound words.

As an Adverb:

• When used as "果然" (guǒ rán), it means "indeed" or "as expected".
• Used to confirm something that was predicted or expected.

Common Structures:

• [modifier] + 果: 水果 (shuǐ guǒ - fruit), 坚果 (jiān guǒ - nut)
• 果 + [noun]: 果汁 (guǒ zhī - fruit juice), 果肉 (guǒ ròu - fruit flesh)
• 果 + [verb]: 果然 (guǒ rán - indeed), 果断 (guǒ duàn - decisive)

Collocations:

• 开花结果 (kāi huā jiē guǒ) - Blossom and bear fruit; yield results
• 自食其果 (zì shí qí guǒ) - Reap what one has sown
• 前因后果 (qián yīn hòu guǒ) - Causes and effects

6. Cultural Background

The character "果" (guǒ) has rich cultural connotations in Chinese tradition. Originally, it depicted a tree with fruits hanging from its branches, symbolizing the concept of fruitfulness and harvest.

In Chinese culture, fruit holds special significance in various contexts:

• Fruit is often used as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, especially during festivals like the Chinese New Year.
• The character appears in many idioms that reflect Chinese philosophical thinking, such as "因果报应" (yīn guǒ bào yìng - karma) and "实事求是" (shí shì qiú shì - seek truth from facts).
• In traditional Chinese medicine, many fruits are valued for their medicinal properties.

The concept of "果" also extends beyond its literal meaning to represent results and consequences, emphasizing the idea of cause and effect that is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Break it down: The character "果" can be visualized as a tree (木/mù) with a field (田/tián) inside, representing a tree bearing fruit in a field.
2. Image association: Imagine a fruit tree heavy with ripe fruits to connect with the meaning of "果".
3. Stroke order: Remember the stroke sequence: 竖 (shù), 横折 (héng zhé), 横 (héng), 横 (héng), 横 (héng), 竖 (shù), 撇 (piě), 捺 (nà).
4. Word association: Connect "果" with common words like "水果" (shuǐ guǒ - fruit) or "结果" (jié guǒ - result) to reinforce your memory.
5. Cultural connection: Remember that "果" not only means fruit but also carries the idea of results and consequences, reflecting the Chinese philosophical concept of cause and effect.