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.

初春

chū chūn

‘初春’ literally means ‘beginning spring’ —

初学

chū xué

初学 literally means 'first study' — 初 (chū) me

初稿

chū gǎo

‘初稿’ literally means 'first draft' — ‘初’ (

冻疮

dòng chuāng

Chilblains (dòng chuāng) is a painful, itchy ski

冻伤

dòng shāng

冻伤 (dòng shāng) literally means 'frozen injury

冷冻

lěng dòng

冷冻 (lěng dòng) is a noun meaning 'refrigeratio

凌云

líng yún

凌云 (líng yún) literally means 'to rise above t

凌晨

líng chén

凌晨 (líng chén) refers to the early hours just

怒发冲冠

nù fà chōng guān

'Nù fà chōng guān' is a classical Chinese idio

礼冠

lǐguān

'Lǐguān' literally combines 'lǐ' (ritual, cerem

冠军

guànjūn

‘冠军’ (guànjūn) literally means ‘crown army

图册

túcè

‘图册’ (túcè) is a compound noun meaning ‘ill

账册

zhàngcè

账册 (zhàngcè) is a formal noun meaning 'ledger'

名册

míngcè

‘Míngcè’ literally combines ‘míng’ (name) a

画册

huàcè

'Huàcè' (画册) literally combines 'huà' (画), m

手册

shǒucè

‘手册’ (shǒucè) is a compound noun meaning ‘h

兼爱

jiān ài

‘兼爱’ (jiān ài) is a foundational ethical con

兼职

jiān zhí

‘兼职’ (jiān zhí) literally combines 兼 (jiān

纸上谈兵

zhǐ shàng tán bīng

'Zhǐ shàng tán bīng' literally means 'discussi

新兵

xīn bīng

‘Xīn bīng’ literally combines ‘xīn’ (new) a

老兵

lǎo bīng

‘老兵’ literally means 'old soldier' — combinin

兵力

bīng lì

‘兵力’ (bīng lì) literally combines 兵 (bīng)

兵器

bīng qì

‘Bīng qì’ literally combines 兵 (bīng), meani

士兵

shì bīng

士兵 (shì bīng) means 'soldier'—specifically an

野兔

yě tù

‘野兔’ literally means ‘wild rabbit’ — combin

玉兔

yù tù

Yù tù (Jade Rabbit) is a legendary creature from

守株待兔

shǒu zhū dài tù

‘Shǒu zhū dài tù’ is a classical Chinese idi

兔年

tù nián

‘兔年’ (tù nián) literally means 'Rabbit Year'

兔毛

tù máo

兔毛 (tù máo) literally means 'rabbit fur' — 兔

兔子

tù zi

‘兔子’ (tù zi) is the most common colloquial te

兑点

duì diǎn

'Duì diǎn' literally combines 兑 (duì), meaning

兑汇

duì huì

‘兑汇’ (duì huì) is a formal financial term me

偿命

chángmìng

‘偿命’ literally means ‘to repay life’—‘偿’

报偿

bàocháng

报偿 (bàocháng) is a formal noun meaning 'reward

亿级

yì jí

'亿级' (yì jí) literally combines '亿' (yì), me

傻瓜

shǎguā

‘傻瓜’ (shǎguā) literally means ‘silly melon

催眠

cuīmián

‘催眠’ (cuīmián) literally combines ‘催’ (cu

傍黑

bàng hēi

‘傍黑’ is a traditional, literary-sounding expre

傍水

bàng shuǐ

'Bàng shuǐ' literally means 'beside the water' a

傍山

bàng shān

'Bàng shān' literally means 'beside the mountain