楊柳是楊柳科柳屬植物的統稱，枝條圓柱形，葉披針形，多生于水邊或庭院。在園林種植中因垂柳具有與其他植物區別明顯的美學特征和空間特征，所以常被用來栽種，比如揚州園林；且因為柳樹的意象的美，常被用在古詩中。

The willow tree, a member of the Salix genus in the Salicaceae family, is known for its long, slender branches and lance-shaped leaves. Often found near water or in traditional courtyards, willows—especially the weeping willow—are a common feature in classical Chinese gardens, such as those in Yangzhou. Their graceful, flowing form creates a unique visual experience that sets them apart from other plants.

先秦《詩經》已有“楊柳依依”的記載，成為早期文學意象的典型。在古典文學中，楊柳特指柳樹，其柔婉形態常被用于比喻女性，如“柳腰”“柳眉”等。

Willows have long held a special place in Chinese poetry and culture. As early as the Book of Songs from the pre-Qin period, the image of "willows swaying gently" was used to convey emotion and atmosphere. In classical Chinese literature, the willow tree often symbolizes softness and elegance. It has become a poetic metaphor for feminine beauty, seen in expressions like "willow waist" and "willow brows".

“柳”作為“留”的代名詞，亦是我們民族文化中的一個亮點。那無邊的柳色，碧綠的枝條，如雪的飛絮，無不契合著人間的離情別緒，無不契合著人間的相思與憂怨。而這種情緒一直延伸到我們今天的生活。

The Chinese word for willow, liu (柳), also sounds like the word for "stay" (留), which gives it added cultural meaning. Willows often appear in poems about parting and longing, their green branches and drifting catkins evoking the sorrow of separation and the ache of unspoken love. Even today, this deep emotional symbolism continues to resonate in Chinese life and art.

責編：劉冰