Browse "DailyRoutines" Characters

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

索要

suǒ yào

索要 (suǒ yào) is a verb meaning 'to demand'—sp

索取

suǒ qǔ

索取 (suǒ qǔ) is a formal, written verb meaning

素材

sùcái

素材 (sùcái) literally combines 素 (sù), meanin

纷繁

fēn fán

纷繁 describes something that is complex, intricat

纠纷

jiū fēn

纠纷 (jiū fēn) is a noun meaning 'dispute' or 'c

纯手工

chún shǒu gōng

'纯手工' literally means 'pure hand work' — combi

纯属

chún shǔ

‘纯属’ is an adverbial phrase meaning 'purely,'

纳凉

nà liáng

纳凉 (nà liáng) literally means 'to receive cool

纳税

nà shuì

纳 (nà) means 'to receive' or 'to accept', and 税

采纳

cǎi nà

采纳 (cǎi nà) is a formal, written verb meaning

运粮

yùn liáng

运粮 literally combines 运 (yùn), meaning 'to tra

口粮

kǒu liáng

‘口粮’ literally combines ‘口’ (kǒu), meaning

糟糠

zāo kāng

‘Zāo kāng’ literally means ‘dregs and chaff’

糙点子

cāo diǎnzi

‘糙点子’ is a colloquial noun meaning a half-bak

糙汉

cāo hàn

‘糙汉’ literally combines ‘糙’ (cāo), meaning

糙活儿

cāo huór

‘糙活儿’ (cāo huór) literally combines ‘糙’

面糊

miàn hú

面糊 (miàn hú) literally combines 面 (miàn), me

糊弄

hù nong

‘糊弄’ (hù nong) is a colloquial verb meaning t

糊口

hú kǒu

'Hú kǒu' literally means 'to paste the mouth' —

粘贴

zhān tiē

‘粘贴’ (zhān tiē) is a compound verb meaning '

窄门

zhǎi mén

'窄门' (zhǎi mén) literally means 'narrow gate'

稳扎稳打

wěn zhā wěn dǎ

稳扎稳打 literally means 'steady staking, steady s

稳当

wěn dang

稳当 (wěn dang) is an adjective meaning 'secure',

名实相称

míng shí xiāng chèn

‘名实相称’ literally means ‘name and reality ma

称身

chèn shēn

‘称身’ (chèn shēn) is an adjective meaning ‘w

称职

chèn zhí

‘称职’ (chèn zhí) is an adjective meaning 'com

缴税

jiǎo shuì

缴税 means 'to pay taxes' — a formal, standard ve

秘书

mìshū

Secretary is a noun referring to a person who assi

秘诀

mìjué

秘诀 literally means 'secret method' — 秘 (mì) m

私事

sī shì

‘私事’ (sī shì) literally combines ‘私’ (sī

私人

sī rén

‘私人’ (sī rén) literally combines ‘私’ (sī

碍事

ài shì

àishì is an adjective meaning 'inconvenient' or

碰头

pèng tóu

碰头 literally means 'to bump heads', but it’s us

碰杯

pèng bēi

碰杯 (pèng bēi) literally means 'to bump cups'

碰巧

pèng qiǎo

碰巧 is an adverb meaning 'by coincidence' or 'as

碰面

pèng miàn

碰面 literally means 'to bump into the face', but

碎屑

suì xiè

‘碎屑’ (suì xiè) literally combines ‘碎’ (br

细碎

xì suì

细碎 (xì suì) is an adjective meaning 'tiny and

砍柴

kǎn chái

砍柴 literally means 'to chop firewood' and refers

砍价

kǎn jià

砍价 (kǎn jià) literally means 'to cut price' —