森

See also: 淼

森 U+68EE, 森 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-68EE ← 棭 [U+68ED] CJK Unified Ideographs 棯 → [U+68EF]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

森 (Kangxi radical 75, 木+8, 12 strokes, cangjie input 木木木 (DDD), four-corner 4099₄, composition ⿱木林)

Derived characters

• 𠎊, 𢵳, 𣛧, 潹, 𤏗, 𦼚

Further reading

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 534, character 11
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 14974
• Dae Jaweon: page 922, character 8
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1226, character 2
• Unihan data for U+68EE

Chinese

trad.		森
simp. #		森

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 森
Shang	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Oracle bone script	Small seal script

Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): Triplication of 木 (“tree”), to suggest a large number (compare 三) of trees such as one would find in a forest. Compare 林 (*ɡ·rɯm).

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *rəm (“jungle; forest; country; field”) (STEDT). Schuessler (2007) suggests that it may be an intensive derivation of 林 (*ɡ·rɯm, “forest”), perhaps influenced by parallels in Austroasiatic, such as Old Khmer sarāma, sarāṃ (“a tract of stunted vegetation”), derived from rām (“inundated forest along a watercourse”). Alternatively, Mei (2012) suggests that the prefix *s- has a denominative function.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): sēn, shēn (sen¹, shen¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄙㄣ, ㄕㄣ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): sen¹

  (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): sěn

  (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): sèn

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): сын (sɨn, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sam¹

  (Dongguan, Jyutping++): sam¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): sem¹ / sem³

  (Yangjiang, Jyutping++): sam¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): sen¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sêm

  (Hailu, HRS): sem^ˋ

  (Meixian, Guangdong): sêm¹

  (Changting, Changting Pinyin): seng¹

• Jin (Wiktionary): seng¹
• Northern Min (KCR): sáing
• Eastern Min (BUC): sĕng
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): sieng¹
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): sim / serm / sem / som / sam

  (Teochew, Peng'im): siam¹ / sim¹ / siang¹

• Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): sam¹
• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ¹sen / ¹seen
  • (Jinhua): ¹sen
• Xiang

  (Changsha, Wiktionary): sen¹

  (Loudi, Wiktionary): senn¹

  (Hengyang, Wiktionary): sen¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: sēn
    • Zhuyin: ㄙㄣ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: sen
    • Wade–Giles: sên¹
    • Yale: sēn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sen
    • Palladius: сэнь (sɛnʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sən⁵⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, variant)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shēn
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄣ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shen
    • Wade–Giles: shên¹
    • Yale: shēn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shen
    • Palladius: шэнь (šɛnʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂən⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: sen¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: sen
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sən⁵⁵/
  • (Xi'an)
    • Guanzhong Pinyin: sěn
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sẽ²¹/
  • (Nanjing)
    • Nanjing Pinyin: sèn
    • Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): sen¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sə̃³¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: сын (sɨn, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /səŋ²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: sam¹
    • Yale: sām
    • Cantonese Pinyin: sam¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: sem¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɐm⁵⁵/
  • (Dongguan, Guancheng)
    • Jyutping++: sam¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɐm²¹³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: sem¹ / sem³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sem³³/, /sem²²/
  • (Yangjiang Yue, Jiangcheng)
    • Jyutping++: sam¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʃɐm³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: sen¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɛn⁴²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sêm
    • Hakka Romanization System: sem^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: sem¹
    • Sinological IPA: /sem²⁴/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: sem^ˋ
    • Sinological IPA: /sem⁵³/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: sêm¹
    • Sinological IPA: /sɛm⁴⁴/
  • (Changting)
    • Changting Pinyin: seng¹
    • Sinological IPA: /seŋ³³/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: seng¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /səŋ¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: sáing
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /saiŋ⁵⁴/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: sĕng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɛiŋ⁵⁵/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: sieng¹
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: siang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬiɛŋ⁵³³/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: sieng¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬiɛŋ⁵⁴⁴/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Hsinchu, Sanxia, Kinmen, Magong)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sim
    • Tâi-lô: sim
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sym
    • IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Kinmen): /sim⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /sim³³/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Nan'an, Yongchun, Lukang, Klang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: serm
    • Tâi-lô: serm
    • IPA (Yongchun): /səm⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Nan'an, Lukang, Klang): /səm³³/
  • (Hokkien: Hui'an)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sem
    • Tâi-lô: sem
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sefm
    • IPA (Hui'an): /sem³³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Zhangpu, Changtai, Taichung, Sanxia, Yilan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: som
    • Tâi-lô: som
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sofm
    • IPA (Zhangzhou, Changtai, Yilan): /sɔm⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangpu): /sɔm⁵⁵/
  • (Hokkien: Longyan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sam
    • Tâi-lô: sam
    • Phofsit Daibuun: safm
    • IPA (Longyan): /sam³³⁴/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: siam¹ / sim¹ / siang¹
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: siam / sim / siang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siam³³/, /sim³³/, /siaŋ³³/

Note:

• siam1 - Shantou, Chaozhou;
• sim1 - Jieyang;
• siang1 - Chenghai.

• Southern Pinghua
  • (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
    • Jyutping++: sam¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /səm⁵³/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai, Jiading, Suzhou, Changzhou, Jiaxing, Tongxiang, Haining, Haiyan, Hangzhou, Ningbo)
    • Wugniu: ¹sen
    • MiniDict: sen^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹sen
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /sən⁵³/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /səŋ⁵³/
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /sən⁴⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Changzhou): /səŋ⁵⁵/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /sən⁵³/
    • Sinological IPA (Tongxiang): /sən⁴⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Haining): /sən⁵⁵/
    • Sinological IPA (Haiyan): /sən⁵¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /sen³³⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /səŋ⁵²/
  • (Northern: Shaoxing)
    • Wugniu: ¹seen
    • MiniDict: sen^平
    • Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /sẽ⁵²/
  • (Jinhua)
    • Wugniu: ¹sen
    • Sinological IPA (Jinhua): /səŋ³³⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: sen¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sən³³/
  • (Loudi)
    • Wiktionary: senn¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sẽ̞⁴⁴/
  • (Hengyang)
    • Wiktionary: sen¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /se̞n⁴⁴⁵/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 森
Mandarin	Beijing	/sən⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/ʂən⁴⁴/ /sən⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/sən²¹/
	Jinan	/ʂẽ²¹³/
	Qingdao	/ʂə̃²¹²³/
	Zhengzhou	/ʂən²⁴/
	Xi'an	/sẽ²¹/
	Xining	/sə̃⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/səŋ⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/ʂə̃n³¹/
	Ürümqi	/sɤŋ⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/sən⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/sən⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/sen⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/sə̃⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/sən³¹/
	Hefei	/sən²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/səŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/səŋ¹³/
	Hohhot	/sə̃ŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/səŋ⁵³/
	Suzhou	/sən⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/sen³³/
	Wenzhou	/saŋ³³/
Hui	Shexian	/sʌ̃³¹/
	Tunxi	/san¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/sən³³/
	Xiangtan	/sən³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/sɛn⁴²/
Hakka	Meixian	/sem⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/sem²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/sɐm⁵³/
	Nanning	/sɐm⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/sɐm⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/sim⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/sɛiŋ⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/saiŋ⁵⁴/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/siam³³/ /sim³³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/sim²³/

---

• Middle Chinese: srim

Rime
Character	森
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	生 (21)
Final (韻)	侵 (140)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	所今切
Baxter	srim
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʃˠiɪm/
Pan Wuyun	/ʃᵚim/
Shao Rongfen	/ʃiem/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʂjim/
Li Rong	/ʃjəm/
Wang Li	/ʃĭĕm/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ʂi̯əm/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shēn
Expected Cantonese Reflex	sam1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*s.rəm/

  (Zhengzhang): /*srɯm/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	森
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	sēn
Middle Chinese	‹ srim ›
Old Chinese	/*s.rəm/
English	dense trees
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	森
Reading #	1/1
No.	11003
Phonetic component	森
Rime group	侵
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	森
Old Chinese	/*srɯm/

Definitions

森

1. full of trees; densely forested
2. in profusion; multitudinous; dense
3. dark; gloomy; cold

   陰森／阴森  ―  yīnsēn  ―  gloomy

4. orderly
5. strict; rigid; rigorous

   森嚴／森严  ―  sēnyán  ―  strict; tight

6. an orthographic borrowing of the Japanese surname 森, Mori
7. (～町):
   1. Mori (a town in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan)
   2. Mori (a town in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan)
8. (Malaysia, Singapore) short for 森美蘭／森美兰 (Sēnměilán, “Negeri Sembilan”)

Compounds

• 亞松森 / 亚松森 (Yàsōngsēn)
• 冷森森
• 劍戟森森 / 剑戟森森
• 壁壘森嚴 / 壁垒森严 (bìlěisēnyán)
• 寒森森
• 布倫森 / 布伦森
• 林森 (Línsēn)
• 柏格森
• 森冷
• 森嚴 / 森严 (sēnyán)
• 森岑
• 森巴 (sēnbā)
• 森林 (sēnlín)
• 森林學 / 森林学
• 森林法
• 森林浴 (sēnlínyù)
• 森森 (sēnsēn)
• 森然 (sēnrán)
• 森羅殿 / 森罗殿 (Sēnluódiàn)
• 森羅萬象 / 森罗万象 (sēnluó-wànxiàng)
• 森美蘭 / 森美兰 (Sēnměilán)
• 森蚺 (sēnrán)
• 森豎 / 森竖
• 森鬱 / 森郁
• 毛骨森然
• 毛骨森竦
• 毛髮森豎 / 毛发森竖
• 海森堡 (Hǎisēnbǎo)
• 涼森森 / 凉森森
• 班強森 / 班强森
• 白森森 (báisēnsēn)
• 盧森堡 / 卢森堡 (Lúsēnbǎo)
• 萬象森羅 / 万象森罗
• 艾森豪 (Àisēnháo)
• 葉斯沛森 / 叶斯沛森
• 蕭森 / 萧森
• 號令森嚴 / 号令森严
• 詹森
• 警備森嚴 / 警备森严
• 門禁森嚴 / 门禁森严
• 陰森 / 阴森 (yīnsēn)
• 陰森森 / 阴森森
• 麻森 (másēn)
• 黃森森 / 黄森森
• 黑森林 (Hēi Sēnlín)

References

• “森”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• 莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “森”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 208.