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.

捷足先登

jié zú xiān dēng

‘捷足先登’ is a classical Chinese idiom literall

捷径

jié jìng

捷径 (jié jìng) literally combines 捷 (jié), me

捷报

jié bào

捷报 (jié bào) literally combines 捷 (jié), mea

来龙去脉

lái lóng qù mài

‘Lái lóng qù mài’ literally means ‘the comi

车水马龙

chē shuǐ mǎ lóng

‘车水马龙’ is a vivid, classical Chinese idiom d

龙年

lóng nián

‘龙年’ (lóng nián) literally means ‘Dragon Ye

望子成龙

wàng zǐ chéng lóng

‘望子成龙’ literally means ‘to hope that one’s

龙王

lóng wáng

Dragon King (lóng wáng) is a legendary deity in

龙舟

lóng zhōu

‘龙舟’ literally means ‘dragon boat’—a long,

齐心协力

qí xīn xié lì

齐心协力 is a four-character idiom meaning 'to uni

松鼠

sōng shǔ

松鼠 (sōng shǔ) literally means 'pine rat'—a co

鼠辈

shǔ bèi

‘鼠辈’ literally means 'rat generation' or 'rat

鼠标

shǔ biāo

鼠标 (shǔ biāo) literally means 'rat marker' or

鼠疫

shǔ yì

鼠疫 (shǔ yì) literally means 'rat plague' — 鼠

仓鼠

cāng shǔ

‘仓鼠’ literally means ‘granary rat’—‘仓’ (

麦秆

mài gǎn

麦秆 (mài gǎn) literally means 'wheat stalk' —

麦芽

mài yá

麦芽 (mài yá) literally means 'wheat sprout'—'

麦田

mài tián

麦田 (mài tián) literally combines 麦 (mài), me

燕麦

yàn mài

燕麦 (yàn mài) is the Chinese word for 'oat', a

大麦

dà mài

‘Dà mài’ (barley) is a cereal grain widely cul

小麦

xiǎo mài

Xiǎo mài (wheat) is a fundamental cereal crop in

邪魅

xiémèi

邪魅 (xiémèi) is a literary compound noun descri

魅影

mèiyǐng

‘魅影’ literally combines ‘魅’ (mèi), meaning

妖魅

yāomèi

妖魅 (yāomèi) is a classical Chinese compound no

鬼魅

guǐmèi

鬼魅 (guǐmèi) is a literary, slightly archaic co

魅力

mèilì

‘魅力’ (mèilì) is a noun meaning ‘charm’ or

鬼门关

guǐ mén guān

‘Guǐ mén guān’ literally means ‘the Gate of

鬼故事

guǐ gùshi

‘Guǐ gùshi’ literally means ‘ghost story’ —

鬼魂

guǐ hún

‘Guǐ hún’ literally combines ‘guǐ’ (ghost,

小鬼

xiǎo guǐ

'Xiǎo guǐ' literally combines 'xiǎo' (small) an

魔鬼

mó guǐ

‘魔鬼’ literally combines 魔 (mó), meaning ‘de

髦齡

máo líng

‘髦龄’ (máo líng) is a literary, somewhat arch

髦士

máo shì

‘髦士’ (máo shì) is a classical Chinese term r

髦彥

máo yàn

‘髦彥’ is a classical Chinese compound noun mean

髦俊

máo jùn

‘髦俊’ (máo jùn) is a classical Chinese compou

髦稚

máo zhì

‘髦稚’ is a classical, literary compound noun me

髦兒

máo ér

‘髦兒’ (máo ér) refers specifically to the str

骨灰

gǔ huī

‘骨灰’ literally means ‘bone ash’ and refers s

骨气

gǔ qì

‘骨气’ (gǔ qì) literally combines ‘bone’ (骨

骨干

gǔ gàn

‘骨干’ (gǔ gàn) literally combines ‘bone’ (