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.

忽

hū

This 'neglect' character hides a crossed-out 'do n

念

niàn

Though it means 'to read,' 念 has no mouth — just

忍

rěn

Its ancient form shows a blade hovering over the h

彻

chè

This 'thorough' character began as a pictograph of

德

dé

This character began as an oracle bone drawing of

待

dāi

This character looks like a person walking to a pl

征

zhēng

Though defined as 'journey', 征 never means casual

彼

bǐ

Originally built from 'step' + 'compare', 彼 isn't

录

lù

Though it means 'to record' today, 录 began as a b

弯

wān

This 'bend' character began as a bronze-age drawin

强

jiàng

This bow-shaped character doesn’t mean 'strong' h

弱

ruò

This 'weak' character began as two sagging bows—a

延

yán

This six-stroke character — one of only 7 in Chin

废

fèi

Originally a pictograph of a crumbling roof — now

厦

shà

This 'mansion' character hides a phonetic surprise

厢

xiāng

This 'box' isn’t for packing—it’s a stone-and-w

庭

tíng

Originally a pictograph of a person beneath a cere

库

kù

Though it looks like a 'roof over a car,' 库 origi

府

fǔ

Originally a Bronze Age tally-keeping courtyard un

幼

yòu

Its ancient oracle bone form showed a wobbling inf

幻

huàn

Born from a stripped-down version of ‘profound my

币

bì

This 'money' character hides its ancient identity:

幕

mù

Born from ‘sunset under grass’ + ‘cloth’, 幕 i

幅

fú

Born as 'cloth width' in bronze inscriptions, 幅 e

席

xí

This 'mat' character evolved from ancient woven pi

帘

lián

This 'curtain' character began as a merchant's clo

巴

bā

Originally a coiled serpent in oracle bones — now

巨

jù

Originally a ritual-bound human figure measuring e