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林

林 (lín) Chinese Character: woods; grove

8 strokes · HSK 1 · Radical 木

木 + 木: more than one tree becomes a grove.

Practice 林 in the interactive lesson

Chinese character story: Two Trees Make a Grove

One 木 is a tree. Put two trees together and the scene becomes 林 (lín), “woods” or “grove.” This is a clear example of Chinese components working like visual building blocks. 森林 is the common word for “forest,” while 树林 means a group or area of trees.

🧩 Word buildingSee what every part contributes

Chinese words often combine short meaning clues. Fixed expressions are clearly marked so you do not translate them too literally.

森林
森many trees林woods=forest
树林
树trees林grove=woods or grove

Chinese character origin and etymology

林 is a compound-idea character formed from two trees, 木 + 木. Together they represent trees growing in a group: woods or a grove.

In modern simplified Chinese, 林 is written with 8 strokes. This lesson separates documented shape history from the memory story so learners do not mistake a mnemonic for a historical claim. 林 contains 木 and 木. These parts act like clues: a component may suggest a meaning category, a pronunciation, or simply preserve part of the character's historical structure.

Chinese character stroke order and structure

林 is written with 8 strokes. Learn the complete stroke sequence in the interactive lesson, then write the character from memory before checking your answer.

  • 木 — the first tree gives the meaning category
  • 木 — a second tree turns one tree into a group of trees

Common usage and sentence patterns

The examples below show 林 in complete beginner-friendly sentences. Read each sentence aloud, notice where the character appears, and then replace one noun or number to create a new sentence of your own.

山上有一片树林。 Shān shàng yǒu yí piàn shùlín. There is a grove on the mountain.
我们去森林里走走。 Wǒmen qù sēnlín lǐ zǒuzou. We are going for a walk in the forest.
林中有很多鸟。 Lín zhōng yǒu hěn duō niǎo. There are many birds in the woods.

Learning tips for 林

Learn the reading as one unit: lín, with the second tone: rising. Avoid memorizing the letters without the tone mark. Say the syllable, recall the English meaning “woods; grove,” and write the 8 strokes from memory.

Because 林 contains reusable components, identify those clues before memorizing the whole shape. Compare it with 木 (mù, tree, wood); 山 (shān, mountain). Similar characters are easier to remember when their different parts and meanings are studied side by side.

Quick review checklist

  • Can you recognize 林 without pinyin?
  • Can you say lín with the correct tone and explain “woods; grove”?
  • Can you write all 8 strokes in order?
  • Can you use 林 in one short sentence?

Related characters

Learn 林 in a themed collection

Compare this character with related beginner words. A themed path helps you notice useful pairs, word-building patterns, and everyday contexts.

🌿 Nature Chinese Characters

Continue learning Chinese characters

Use the Chinese radicals and components guide to understand reusable parts, the stroke order guide to improve handwriting, and the HSK 1 character overview to choose your next beginner lesson.

Sources and editorial note

HanziStory separates documented character history from modern memory stories. Historical-form images are shown only when a matching source file is available; missing stages are skipped rather than invented. Stroke practice uses HanziWriter data.

Last updated: August 12, 2026. Read our sources, editorial method, and correction policy.