楊

A phono-semantic compound:

木 — tree, wood (semantic component)

昜 — sun rising, brightness (phonetic component)

A tree associated with sunlight and openness, growing in exposed areas such as plains or near water. The phonetic 昜 supplies the sound "yang", while 木 classifies it as a tree.

양류 (楊柳) — willows (collective / literary)

양화 (楊花) — willow catkins

양수 (楊樹) — poplar tree (modern Chinese usage)

성씨 양 (楊) — the surname Yang

Related characters:

柳 — willow (more common poetic term)

榆 — elm (different species)

桐 — paulownia (symbolic tree)

樹 — tree (generic)

Willows (楊 / 柳) are linked with:

- spring

- separation and reunion

- feminine grace

- impermanence

In classical literature, 楊 and 柳 often appear together but are distinct characters:

楊 — tree name, surname, broader botanical sense

柳 — willow with stronger poetic specialization

楊 is one of the most common surnames in China, Korea, Vietnam.

Examples:

楊貴妃 — Yang Guifei

양씨 (楊氏) — the Yang clan

In Korean, 楊 as “willow” survives mostly in surnames and classical compounds.

The everyday word 버들 usually corresponds to 柳, not 楊.

Botanical distinctions differ by culture:

Korea: willow-focused

China: includes poplars

Japan: 柳 preferred for willow