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.

Its ancient form pictured rice grains scattered on

This ‘spicy’ character didn’t exist in ancient

xīn

This 7-stroke character began as a double-bladed e

zhuǎn

Born from a chariot + spinning wheel, this 8-strok

shū

This 'loss' character literally began as 'shipping

tǎng

This ‘recline’ character hides a 2,300-year-old

This 'distance' character began as a giant footste

tāng

This character looks like 'walk' + 'ceremonial ves

gǎn

Originally a pictograph of driving cattle with a s

yíng

This 17-stroke 'win' character hides a turtle — s

gòu

Its 'shell' radical reveals it began as ancient cu

zhuàn

Its left side is a shell — ancient Chinese money

zhì

Originally a hostage pledged under a cliff-shelter

This 'resources' character hides ancient shell-mon

This 'congratulate' character hides ancient shell-

fèi

Born from a hand prying open ancient shell-money,

Originally a pictograph of demanding repayment in

huò

Born from ancient cowrie shells and the concept of

This six-stroke character looks like a person crus

mào

Born from a beast radical and a kneeling figure,

xiàng

This 'elephant' character secretly birthed the ent

This 7-stroke character began as 'speech + change'

jǐng

This 'alert' character hides a reverent ancestor—

lùn

This 'opinion' character began as a bronze-age sca

liàng

This 'speech + good' character started as a vow of

tán

Originally built from 'speech' + 'flame'—not for

This 'friendship' character hides a quiet revoluti

Its radical 讠 (speech) + 'wù' (interference) vis