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.

山顶

shān dǐng

山顶 literally means 'mountain top' — combining

快马加鞭

kuài mǎ jiā biān

‘快马加鞭’ literally means 'to spur a fast horse

鞭子

biān zi

‘鞭子’ (biān zi) is a noun meaning 'whip'—a fl

皮革

pígé

皮革 (pígé) is the standard Mandarin term for 'l

牛革

niú gé

牛革 (niú gé) literally means 'ox hide' — combi

革命

gémìng

革命 (gémìng) literally means 'to change one's m

靠背

kào bèi

‘靠背’ literally means ‘to lean against the bac

青出于蓝

qīng chū yú lán

‘青出于蓝’ is a classical Chinese idiom literall

青红皂白

qīng hóng zào bái

Qīng hóng zào bái literally combines four colo

青天

qīngtiān

青天 (qīngtiān) literally means 'blue sky' — 青

青草

qīngcǎo

‘Qīngcǎo’ literally means ‘green grass’ — c

青春

qīngchūn

青春 (qīngchūn) literally combines 青 (qīng), m

灵性

líng xìng

灵性 (líng xìng) literally combines 灵 (líng),

灵感

líng gǎn

灵感 (líng gǎn) literally combines 灵 (líng), m

雾灯

wù dēng

‘雾灯’ (wù dēng) literally means ‘fog light’

雾霾

wù mái

‘Wù mái’ (smog) is a compound noun formed by c

雾气

wù qì

‘雾气’ (wù qì) is a compound noun meaning ‘mi

防霉

fáng méi

防霉 (fáng méi) literally means 'prevent mold'

霉运

méi yùn

霉运 (méi yùn) literally combines 霉 (méi), mea

霉变

méi biàn

‘Méi biàn’ literally combines ‘méi’ (mold,

霉菌

méi jūn

霉菌 (méi jūn) literally combines 霉 (méi), mea

余震

yú zhèn

‘余震’ (yú zhèn) literally means ‘remaining s

震怒

zhènnù

‘震怒’ literally means ‘shaking anger’ — the

地震

dì zhèn

‘地震’ (dì zhèn) literally means ‘earth shake

地雷

dì léi

‘地雷’ (dì léi) literally means ‘earth thunde

雷霆

léi tíng

‘雷霆’ literally combines ‘雷’ (léi, thunder)

雷声

léi shēng

‘雷声’ literally combines ‘雷’ (léi), meaning

雷雨

léi yǔ

‘雷雨’ literally combines ‘雷’ (léi), meaning

集训

jí xùn

‘集训’ (jí xùn) literally combines ‘集’ (jí

雌雄

cí xióng

‘雌雄’ literally combines ‘雌’ (cí), meaning

枭雄

xiāo xióng

‘枭雄’ (xiāo xióng) literally combines ‘枭’

雄心

xióng xīn

‘雄心’ literally combines ‘xiónɡ’ (masculine

隔代

gé dài

‘隔代’ literally means ‘separated by one genera

隔阂

gé hé

‘隔阂’ (gé hé) literally combines ‘隔’ (gé)

间隔

jiàn gé

'间隔' (jiàn gé) is a noun meaning 'interval', '

台阶

tái jiē

‘台阶’ (tái jiē) literally combines ‘台’ (t

阶级

jiē jí

阶级 (jiējí) literally combines 阶 (jiē), meani

陆路

lù lù

‘陆路’ literally combines ‘陆’ (lù), meaning

陆地

lù dì

‘陆地’ (lù dì) literally combines ‘陆’ (lù)

陆军

lù jūn

陆军 (lù jūn) literally means 'land army' and re