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.

鼻塞

bí sāi

鼻塞 (bí sāi) literally means 'nose blockage' —

鼻炎

bí yán

鼻炎 (bí yán) literally means 'nose inflammation

鼻涕

bí tì

鼻涕 (bí tì) literally combines 鼻 (bí), meanin

鼻子

bí·zi

鼻子 (bí·zi) is the standard colloquial term for

黄豆

huáng dòu

‘Huáng dòu’ (soybean) is a common noun referri

黄历

huáng lì

‘Huangli’ (黄历) is the traditional Chinese alma

黄牛

huáng niú

‘黄牛’ literally means 'yellow ox' — a traditio

黄金

huáng jīn

黄金 literally means 'yellow metal' — 黄 (huáng)

黄瓜

huáng guā

‘Huáng guā’ literally means ‘yellow melon’,

鸟语

diǎo yǔ

‘Bird talk’ (鸟语) literally combines 鸟 (diǎo,

鸟毛

diǎo máo

'Bird feather' literally, but in colloquial Mandar

鸟样

diǎo yàng

'Bird appearance' — literally 'bird' (鸟) plus 'a

鸟人

diǎo rén

'Bird person' (鸟人) is a slangy, playfully deroga

鸟蛋

diǎo dàn

‘鸟蛋’ literally means ‘bird egg’, but in coll

鸟事

diǎo shì

‘鸟事’ (diǎo shì) is a colloquial, mildly vulg

海鲜

hǎi xiān

‘海鲜’ (hǎi xiān) literally combines ‘海’ (h

铁骑

tiě qí

‘铁骑’ literally combines ‘iron’ (铁) and ‘ca

骑射

qí shè

骑射 (qí shè) literally combines 骑 (to ride, es

骑术

qí shù

骑术 (qí shù) literally combines 骑 (qí), meani

骑士

qí shì

骑士 (qí shì) literally combines 骑 (qí), meani

骑手

qí shǒu

骑手 literally combines 骑 (qí), meaning 'to ride

骑兵

qí bīng

骑兵 (qí bīng) literally means 'riding soldiers'

马车

mǎ chē

马车 (mǎ chē) literally means 'horse vehicle' —

赛马

sài mǎ

‘Sài mǎ’ literally means ‘race horse’—‘sà

黑马

hēi mǎ

‘黑马’ (hēi mǎ) literally means 'black horse'

香烟

xiāng yān

‘香烟’ literally means ‘fragrant smoke’, combi

香肠

xiāng cháng

Xiāng cháng literally means 'fragrant intestine'

香气

xiāng qì

‘Xiāng qì’ literally combines ‘xiāng’ (frag

香味

xiāng wèi

‘香味’ (xiāng wèi) literally combines ‘香’ (

香水

xiāng shuǐ

香水 (xiāng shuǐ) literally means 'fragrant wate

饿狼

è láng

饿狼 literally means 'hungry wolf' — combining 饿

饿汉

è hàn

‘饿汉’ literally combines ‘饿’ (è), meaning

饥饿

jī è

饥饿 (jī è) is a compound noun meaning 'hunger'

饱饭

bǎo fàn

'Bǎo fàn' literally combines 'bǎo' (full, satia

冷饮

lěng yǐn

‘冷饮’ literally means ‘cold drink’—‘冷’ (l

饮用水

yǐn yòng shuǐ

‘饮用水’ literally means ‘drink-use water’ —

饮品

yǐn pǐn

‘饮品’ (yǐn pǐn) literally combines ‘饮’ (y

饮料

yǐn liào

‘饮料’ (yǐn liào) literally combines ‘饮’ (y

风度

fēng dù

风度 (fēng dù) literally combines 'wind' (风) an

台风

tái fēng

'Typhoon' (tái fēng) is a noun referring to a po