樸

Note: Korean distinguishes 樸 (박, “simple; plain; log”) from 朴 (박, a common surname, also “simple/plain”).

Phono-semantic compound:

木 (“tree, wood”) — semantic component

菐 (pú / bó) — phonetic component, giving the pronunciation 박

Originally it meant raw, unprocessed wood, then by metaphor extended to simple, honest, unadorned human character.

朴 is an abbreviated historical form that became standard in China and Japan.

Character / moral qualities:

순박(淳樸) — simple, honest, pure-hearted

질박(質樸) — rustic, unpretentious

박진(樸眞) — genuine, plain, true

Literal wood meaning:

통박(通樸) — unprocessed wood; a log (rare, older usage)

박목(樸木) — raw timber

Idiomatic / metaphorical:

소박(素樸) — plain, natural

박수(樸守) — simplicity and purity

樸 is a central philosophical term in Daoism, referring to “the uncarved block” representing original, undivided simplicity. Along with 素 (“plainness”), 樸 represents a virtue of minimalism and natural authenticity.

The character is visually and semantically associated with raw wood and unrefined natural states, an important concept in classical Chinese thought.

Japanese standardizes 朴 (ぼく / ほう / えのき). 樸 survives only in classical texts, not in everyday writing.

Classical citations:

《論語·學而》 (The Analects)

「里仁爲美。擇不處仁，焉得知？樸。」(variant context)

Common value: 樸 refers to plainness and simplicity.

《老子》 (Lao Tzu)

「見素抱樸，少私寡欲。」

“Reveal your pure nature and embrace simplicity; lessen selfishness and reduce desire.”

《莊子·天地》 (Zhuangzi)

「樸散則爲器。」

“When the uncarved block is broken, it becomes tools (i.e., distinctions arise).”

《廣雅》 (Guangya)

「樸，木也。」

“樸 means wood.”

Here specifically, a log; raw timber.