杏

A phono-semantic compound:

木 (tree) — semantic component, indicating a tree or woody plant

口 — phonetic component, a simplified form derived from 向 (향), supplying the sound (행 / xìng)

The structure thus denotes a tree associated with the sound “행”, referring specifically to the apricot tree and its fruit.

행자 (杏子) — apricot

행목 (杏木) — apricot tree

행림 (杏林) — apricot grove (see notes below)

Literary / specialized usage:

행화 (杏花) — apricot blossoms

행향 (杏香) — apricot fragrance

In Korean, 살구 is normally written in native Hangul, while 杏 appears mainly in literary, academic, or botanical contexts.

杏 occupies a notable place in classical Chinese culture, especially in literary symbolism.

杏花 (apricot blossoms) often symbolize springtime, youth, and fleeting beauty.

杏林 (apricot grove) is a classical metaphor for the medical profession. It originates from a legend about a physician who asked cured patients to plant apricot trees instead of paying fees, creating a grove that symbolized benevolent medicine. As a result, 杏林 came to mean the world of medicine or medical community.

In Modern Mandarin, 杏 is the standard character for “apricot,” but it is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, reflecting its relatively limited use outside literary, botanical, or specialized contexts.

Related characters (fruits & trees):

李 — plum

桃 — peach

梅 — apricot / plum (East Asian apricot)

梨 — pear

木 — tree; wood

Among these, 杏 specifically refers to the apricot, distinct from 梅, which denotes the East Asian apricot (Prunus mume) and carries heavier poetic symbolism.