榴

Refers specifically to the pomegranate tree (Punica granatum) and, by extension, its fruit — a symbol of fertility, abundance, and beauty.

It most often appears in the compound 石榴 (석류), literally “stone pomegranate,” the standard word for the pomegranate in East Asian languages.

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

木 (나무 목) — semantic component, indicating a tree or plant.

留 (머무를 류) — phonetic component, providing the sound ryu (류) and carrying the idea of remaining or preserving.

Together, they express “a tree that retains (its seeds or fruit)”, fitting for the pomegranate, known for its tightly packed, numerous seeds — a natural emblem of preservation and fertility.

石榴 (석류) — pomegranate

榴花 (류화) — pomegranate blossom

榴樹 (류수) — pomegranate tree

榴實 (류실) — pomegranate fruit

紅榴 (홍류) — red pomegranate; figuratively, vivid color or beauty

榴裙 (류군) — skirt the color of pomegranate blossoms (symbol of youth and spring)

榴香 (류향) — fragrance of pomegranate flowers

The pomegranate (榴) was introduced to China from the Western Regions (西域, likely Persia or Central Asia) during the Han dynasty, and soon became a cherished ornamental and fruit-bearing tree.

Its vibrant red blossoms and seed-filled fruit made it a symbol of prosperity, fertility, and family lineage.

「榴實多子，以象多福。」

“The pomegranate bears many seeds, symbolizing abundant blessings.”

In Confucian family culture, pomegranates were often presented as wedding gifts or depicted in art to express the wish for many descendants (多子多孫).

In Buddhist symbolism, the pomegranate is one of the “Three Blessed Fruits” (佛教三果) along with the peach and citrus, representing abundance and compassion.

In Tang poetry, 榴 frequently appears as a metaphor for youthful beauty, summer’s brilliance, and unrestrained vitality.

杜牧《題榴花》

「五月榴花照眼明，枝間時見子初成。」

“In May, the pomegranate blossoms shine before the eyes;

Between the branches, young fruits begin to form.”

The color “pomegranate red (榴紅)” became a poetic term denoting brightness, passion, and auspiciousness — used in fabrics, cosmetics, and literature.

榴 symbolizes life, fertility, and endurance — its many seeds representing not just reproduction but the continuity of blessing and lineage.

Because its fruit endures heat and ripens even under harsh sun, it also embodies perseverance and vitality.

「榴開不避炎陽。」

“The pomegranate blossoms without fearing the blazing sun.”

In this, 榴 becomes both a botanical emblem and a moral metaphor — the beauty that flourishes under trial, and the life that multiplies despite hardship.

榴 is the tree of abundance — bearing within it the lesson that true richness lies in what one contains and preserves.

Its vivid blossoms and countless seeds mirror the heart that gives, grows, and sustains.

「榴花照日，心常不枯。」

“Like the pomegranate glowing in sunlight, the heart never withers.”

Thus, 榴 stands as a timeless emblem of fruitfulness, continuity, and the radiant strength of life.