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.

陪练

péi liàn

'Pei liàn' literally combines 'péi' (to accompan

陪伴

péi bàn

‘陪伴’ (péi bàn) combines two characters: 陪 (

阅历

yuè lì

‘阅历’ (yuè lì) is a noun meaning ‘life exper

阅兵

yuè bīng

‘阅兵’ (yuè bīng) literally means ‘to review

阅览室

yuè lǎn shì

'阅览室' (yuè lǎn shì) literally combines three

钥匙圈

yào shi quān

A yàoshi quān (keyring) is a small ring—usually

备用钥匙

bèi yòng yào shi

'备用钥匙' literally combines four characters: 备

钥匙扣

yào shi kòu

A yuàoshi kòu is a small decorative or functiona

电子钥匙

diàn zǐ yào shi

An electronic key is a digital or wireless device

万能钥匙

wàn néng yào shi

'Wàn néng yào shi' literally means 'ten-thousan

钥匙

yào shi

‘钥匙’ (yào shi) is a compound noun meaning ‘k

镜面

jìng miàn

‘镜面’ literally combines ‘镜’ (jìng), meanin

镜框

jìng kuàng

‘镜框’ literally means ‘mirror frame’, but in

明镜

míng jìng

‘Míng jìng’ literally means ‘bright mirror’

后视镜

hòu shì jìng

‘后视镜’ literally means ‘rear-view mirror’:

镜子

jìng zi

镜子 (jìng zi) is a colloquial, everyday noun mea

眼镜

yǎn jìng

‘眼镜’ (yǎn jìng) literally means ‘eye mirror

关键

guān jiàn

‘关键’ literally combines ‘关’ (guān), meanin

回车键

huí chē jiàn

‘回车键’ literally means ‘return-car key’, a c

删除键

shān chú jiàn

'删除键' (shān chú jiàn) literally means 'delet

快捷键

kuài jié jiàn

A 'kuài jié jiàn' (shortcut key) is a combinati

键盘

jiàn pán

Keyboard refers to the input device with keys used

钢架

gāng jià

‘钢架’ (gāng jià) literally combines ‘钢’ (g

钢筋

gāng jīn

Rebar, or steel reinforcing bar, is a crucial cons

钢板

gāng bǎn

钢板 (gāng bǎn) literally combines 钢 (gāng), m

不锈钢

bù xiù gāng

'Bù xiù gāng' literally means 'not-rust steel'

钢铁

gāng tiě

钢铁 literally means 'steel and iron' — combining

绣花针

xiù huā zhēn

‘绣花针’ literally means ‘embroidery flower nee

指南针

zhǐ nán zhēn

指南针 literally means 'point-south-needle' — a d

针灸

zhēn jiǔ

‘针灸’ (zhēn jiǔ) is a compound noun referring

针线

zhēn xiàn

‘针线’ (zhēn xiàn) literally means ‘needle an

金库

jīn kù

‘金库’ literally means ‘gold warehouse’—‘金

金榜

jīn bǎng

‘Jīn bǎng’ literally means 'golden list'—'jī

金矿

jīn kuàng

‘金矿’ (jīn kuàng) literally means ‘gold mine

金属

jīn shǔ

金属 (jīn shǔ) is a noun meaning 'metal' — the

注释

zhù shì

‘注释’ (zhùshì) is a noun meaning 'annotation'

释义

shì yì

释义 (shì yì) is a formal noun meaning 'definiti

梦醒

mèng xǐng

梦醒 literally combines 梦 (mèng, 'dream') and 醒

乳酸

rǔ suān

‘乳酸’ (rǔ suān) literally means ‘milk acid’

穷酸

qióng suān

‘穷酸’ is a derogatory compound describing someo