What does 棵 mean in Chinese?

棵 (kē) means "classifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.

How do you pronounce 棵?

棵 is pronounced "kē" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 棵?

棵 is an HSK 4 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 4 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 棵?

Common words with 棵 include 发棵 (budding), 塌棵菜 (Brassica narinosa (broadbeaked mustard)), 不要在一棵树上吊死 (don't insist on only taking one road to Rome (idiom)).

How do you write 棵?

You can practice writing 棵 using our stroke order tool.

棵 (kē), classifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc

棵

kē

classifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc

HSK 4classifier

Character Breakdown

Radical: 木 (no. 75)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) classifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc

Example Sentences

这里有一棵树。

Zhèlǐ yǒu yì kē shù

There's a tree here

Words Containing 棵

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
发棵	fā kē	budding
塌棵菜	tā kē cài	Brassica narinosa (broadbeaked mustard)
不要在一棵树上吊死	bù yào zài yī kē shù shàng diào sǐ	don't insist on only taking one road to Rome (idiom)

Related Words

花木(huā mù)· flowers and trees

→

蓏(luǒ)· fruit of plants (not of trees)

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 4
HSK 2.0: HSK 4
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

棵: HSK 4 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 4 exam

Studying for HSK 4? Keep 棵 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 4 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.