🇬🇧🇨🇳 willow - 柳 : English Lesson

Meaning of "willow" ("柳"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

A willow is a kind of tree that usually grows near rivers or lakes. It has a soft, bendy trunk and very long, thin branches with narrow leaves that hang down, almost like a curtain or someone’s long hair. When the wind blows, a willow’s branches sway and dance gently, making it look like the tree is bowing or brushing the ground.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I tried to use the droopy willow branches as a wig, but I just turned into a walking salad.

Our picnic under the willow was great until an army of ants used its branches as a highway to the sandwiches.

Our dog ran into the willow, got wrapped in branches, and came out looking like a walking broom.

The willow by the pond looked like it was trying to hide the ducks behind its leafy curtain.

Some kinds of willow trees have bark that was used long ago to make pain medicine—so you could say the willow was one of the world’s first doctors with leaves.

By the pond, a boy brushed the long curtains of a willow, watching water drip from willow branches. He climbed under the willow cover and listened to frogs. A duck tucked its head behind the willow leaves. When the sun slid down, he stood and waved at the willow, smiling all the way home.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.