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.

卫士

wèishì

‘卫士’ literally combines 卫 (wèi), meaning ‘t

卫生

wèishēng

卫生 (wèishēng) literally combines 卫 (wèi), me

战术

zhàn shù

战术 (zhàn shù) literally combines 战 (zhàn), m

武术

wǔ shù

‘Wǔshù’ (武术) literally means ‘martial skill

医术

yī shù

医术 (yī shù) literally combines 医 (yī), meani

狐假虎威

hú jiǎ hǔ wēi

狐假虎威 is a classical Chinese idiom (chengyu) th

虎头蛇尾

hǔ tóu shé wěi

‘虎头蛇尾’ is an idiom that literally means ‘ti

骑虎难下

qí hǔ nán xià

The idiom 骑虎难下 literally means 'riding a tiger

虎将

hǔ jiàng

‘虎将’ literally means ‘tiger general’ — comb

虎口

hǔ kǒu

‘虎口’ literally means 'tiger’s mouth'—a compo

老虎

lǎo hǔ

‘Lǎo hǔ’ literally combines ‘lǎo’ (old) and

园艺

yuán yì

‘园艺’ (yuán yì) literally combines ‘园’ (yu

艺人

yì rén

‘艺人’ (yì rén) literally combines ‘艺’ (yì

艺术

yì shù

艺术 (yì shù) means 'art' in the broad sense —

天麻

tiān má

‘Tiān má’ (Gastrodia elata) is a perennial orc

麻雀

má què

‘Máquè’ (麻雀) literally combines ‘má’ (hem

麻油

má yóu

麻油 (má yóu) literally means 'hemp oil', but in

麻醉

má zuì

‘Má zuì’ literally combines ‘má’ (numbness,

葡萄酒

pú tao jiǔ

‘葡萄酒’ literally means ‘grape wine’ — a fer

葡萄干

pú tao gān

葡萄干 (pú tao gān) literally means 'dried grape

葡萄牙人

pú táo yá rén

‘葡萄牙人’ literally combines ‘葡’ (a phonetic

葡萄牙语

pú táo yá yǔ

葡萄牙语 (pú táo yá yǔ) literally means 'Portu

葡萄牙

pú táo yá

葡萄牙 is the Chinese name for the European countr

葡萄

pú tao

‘葡萄’ (pú táo) is a compound noun meaning ‘g

著述

zhù shù

著述 (zhù shù) is a formal noun meaning 'writing

遗漏

yí lù

‘遗漏’ (yí lù) means ‘oversight’ as a noun o

良苦用心

liáng kǔ yòngxīn

‘良苦用心’ literally combines ‘good’ (良), ‘b

苦难

kǔ nàn

苦难 (kǔ nàn) is a compound noun meaning 'hardsh

苦瓜

kǔ guā

苦瓜 is a green, ridged gourd widely used in Chine

痛苦

tòng kǔ

痛苦 (tòng kǔ) is a compound word meaning 'pain'

辛苦

xīn kǔ

'辛苦' (xīn kǔ) literally combines '辛' (xīn),

航运

háng yùn

航运 refers to the transportation of goods or pass

航线

háng xiàn

‘航线’ (háng xiàn) literally combines ‘航’ (

航海

háng hǎi

‘航海’ literally combines ‘航’ (háng), meanin

航天

háng tiān

‘航天’ (háng tiān) literally combines ‘航’ (

航空

háng kōng

'航空' (háng kōng) literally combines '航' (hán

举止

jǔ zhǐ

举止 refers to a person’s outward behavior—how t

举动

jǔ dòng

举动 (jǔ dòng) is a noun meaning 'action' or 'be

至亲

zhì qīn

至亲 (zhì qīn) literally combines 至 (zhì), mea

五脏

wǔ zàng

‘Wǔ zàng’ literally means ‘five viscera’ and