来
lái · to come / arriving · HSK 1
Under the cloud (一), two birds (丷) COME down to rest on the tree (木).
Chinese radical · Beginner guide
木 (mù) — the wood radical
木 means tree or wood, and it keeps its full shape inside characters — no squeezing needed. It signals trees, wood, plants, or upright natural forms. It is also half of one of the most famous beginner characters: 休 (rest) is a person (亻) leaning against a tree (木).
木 keeps its full shape inside characters — no squeezing needed. It is 4 strokes.
Why it matters
77 of InkSeal's 1,799 HSK 1–6 characters contain this component — learn it once, recognize it everywhere.
Beginner characters with 木
Each of these HSK 1–3 characters contains 木. Tap through for the full visual mnemonic, common words, and example sentences.
样
yàng · appearance / shape · HSK 1
A wooden 木 sheep 羊 template shows the sample shape: 样.
果
guǒ · fruit / result · HSK 1
A ripe four-paneled fruit sits on top of a tree: 果.
本
běn · root / origin · HSK 1
Look at the base of the tree (木); the single line (一) marks its root (本).
东
dōng · East · HSK 1
The red sun rises behind the 东-shaped tree in the East.
机
jī · machine / engine · HSK 1
A wooden 木 frame with a 几-shaped crank becomes a machine, 机.
校
xiào · school · HSK 1
At school, a wooden tree of learning stands beside crossed pencils: 木 plus 交 makes 校.
杯
bēi · cup / glass · HSK 1
A wooden 木 vessel, shaped by 不, becomes a cup.
楼
lóu · multi-story building / floor · HSK 1
Beside a wooden frame 木, a stacked 娄 tower glows from its upper floor: 楼.
床
chuáng · bed · HSK 1
Under the shelter 广, a wooden 木 bed waits for sleep.
休
xiū · to rest · HSK 1
A person beside a tree takes a rest: 休.
树
shù · tree / to plant · HSK 1
A tree 木 grows as two careful hands 又 and 寸 tend it into 树.
More radicals to learn
口 (mouth) · 扌 (hand) · 氵 (water) · 亻 (person) · 讠 (speech) — or start from the beginner's guide to all 40 radicals.
Learn every radical the visual way. InkSeal pairs every HSK 1–6
character with an illustration, component breakdowns, common words and sentences,
and recall-first review. The first 100 characters are free.