Browse Characters — Learn Chinese Through Stories

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

miè

A fire (火) literally smothered by a lid — one ho

cāng

This 'deep blue-green' character hides a secret: i

róng

Its right side 容 means 'to hold' — so 溶 doesn’

liū

This character looks like 'water staying' (氵+留),

gài

Though it looks like 'general' (概), 溉 is all abo

yǒng

This character looks like water shouting — three

Originally borrowed from a word meaning 'beard'—n

còu

Though it looks like it contains ‘奏’ (to perfor

hún

Though it means 'muddy,' 浑 originated as a poetic

miǎo

This character began as an eye squinting at distan

gǎng

Its right side looks like 'alley' — because ancie

zhā

A metallurgical term for industrial waste became i

This character looks like 'water' + 'measure' — b

This 'canal' character (qú) was hijacked by ancie

tiān

Looks like 'water + heaven', but originated as 'wa

yān

This character looks like water pressing down on

hún

This character began as ‘swarming insects in wate

lín

Its right side is 'forest' — because 淋 doesn’t

xiáo

Its right side is 爻 — the ancient I Ching symbol

diàn

Though it looks like 'lightning over water', 淀 ac

hán

Originally a water-filled ritual box — now the go

Though it looks like 'water + night,' 液 isn’t po

shuàn

This 11-stroke 'swish' character evolved from brus

This 'tears' character originally meant 'snot' —

shè

This character began as two feet straddling flowin

jìn

Its right side is the character for 'invade' — re

Though it means 'bath,' 浴 hasn’t been used alone

Originally a bronze-age boat held aloft by water a