Browse "Noun" 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.

御林军

yù lín jūn

‘御林军’ (yù lín jūn) literally means ‘imper

御前

yù qián

‘御前’ literally means 'before the emperor'—‘

御膳

yù shàn

‘御膳’ literally combines ‘御’ (yù), meaning

御用

yù yòng

'Yù yòng' literally combines 'yù' (to govern, t

徙置

xǐ zhì

‘徙置’ is a formal noun meaning ‘relocation’,

迁徙

qiān xǐ

迁徙 refers to the large-scale, often seasonal mov

师徒

shī tú

师徒 (shī tú) literally combines 师 (shī), mean

信徒

xìn tú

信徒 (xìn tú) literally combines 信 (xìn), mean

暴徒

bào tú

暴徒 (bào tú) is a compound noun meaning 'ruffia

徒弟

tú dì

徒弟 (tú dì) literally combines 徒 (tú), meanin

半径

bàn jìng

‘半径’ (bàn jìng) is a mathematical noun meani

直径

zhí jìng

‘直径’ (zhí jìng) is a mathematical noun meani

田径

tián jìng

‘田径’ (tián jìng) is the standard Chinese ter

曲径

qū jìng

‘曲径’ literally means ‘curved path’ or ‘wind

小径

xiǎo jìng

‘小径’ literally means ‘small path’ — ‘小’

杂役

zá yì

‘杂役’ (zá yì) literally combines ‘杂’ (zá)

徭役

yáo yì

‘徭役’ (yáo yì) is a historical Chinese term r

劳役

láo yì

‘劳役’ (láo yì) is a formal noun meaning ‘for

兵役

bīng yì

‘兵役’ (bīng yì) literally combines 兵 (bīng)

弥天大谎

mí tiān dà huǎng

‘弥天大谎’ literally means ‘a lie that fills th

弥撒

mí sā

‘弥撒’ is a loanword from Latin ‘missa’, refer

弥留

mí liú

‘弥留’ is a formal, literary noun referring spec

弦理论

xián lǐlùn

String theory (弦理论) is a theoretical framework

上弦

shàng xián

‘Shàng xián’ literally combines ‘shàng’ (up

弦乐

xián yuè

‘弦乐’ literally means ‘string music’ and refe

心弦

xīn xián

‘心弦’ literally combines 心 (xīn, 'heart') and

弓弦

gōng xián

弓弦 (gōng xián) literally combines 弓 (gōng),

琴弦

qín xián

琴弦 (qín xián) literally means 'instrument stri

营私舞弊

yíng sī wǔ bì

营私舞弊 is a formal, four-character idiom meaning

弊病

bì bìng

弊病 (bì bìng) literally combines 弊 (bì), mean

弊端

bì duān

弊端 (bì duān) is a formal noun meaning 'drawbac

庙会

miào huì

A miàohuì (temple fair) is a traditional Chinese

土地庙

tǔ dì miào

土地庙 (tǔ dì miào) is a small, humble shrine d

孔庙

kǒng miào

A Kǒng Miào (Temple of Confucius) is a tradition

城隍庙

chéng huáng miào

Chéng huáng miào literally means 'City God Temp

龙王庙

lóng wáng miào

Dragon King Temple (lóng wáng miào) is a tradit

耳廓

ěr kuò

‘耳廓’ (ěr kuò) refers specifically to the vis

轮廓

lún kuò

轮廓 (lún kuò) literally combines 轮 (lún), mea

走廊

zǒu láng

走廊 (zǒu láng) literally combines 走 (zǒu, 'to

门廊

mén láng

‘门廊’ (mén láng) literally combines ‘门’ (m