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.

亲属

qīn shǔ

'亲属' (qīn shǔ) is a formal noun meaning 'relat

亲吻

qīn wěn

‘亲吻’ is a compound word meaning 'kiss'—a phys

亲笔

qīn bǐ

‘亲笔’ literally means ‘one’s own hand’—comb

亲人

qīn rén

'Qīn rén' literally combines 'qīn' (close, inti

规划

guī huà

规划 (guī huà) means 'plan' as a noun or 'to pla

规范

guī fàn

规范 (guīfàn) is a versatile word meaning 'stand

规则

guī zé

规则 (guī zé) means 'rule' or 'regulation'—a fo

圆规

yuán guī

‘圆规’ is a two-character noun referring to the

袜套

wà tào

‘袜套’ (wà tào) literally combines ‘袜’ (wà

长袜

cháng wà

‘长袜’ (cháng wà) literally means 'long socks'

短袜

duǎn wà

‘短袜’ (duǎn wà) literally means ‘short sock

棉袜

mián wà

棉袜 (mián wà) literally means 'cotton socks' —

丝袜

sī wà

'丝袜' (sī wà) literally means 'silk stockings'

袜子

wà zi

‘袜子’ (wà zi) is the standard Mandarin word fo

米袋

mǐ dài

米袋 (mǐ dài) literally means 'rice bag' — a co

信封袋

xìn fēng dài

'信封袋' (xìn fēng dài) literally combines '信'

茶叶袋

chá yè dài

茶叶袋 literally means 'tea leaf bag' — a small,

塑料袋

sù liào dài

'塑料袋' (sù liào dài) literally means 'plastic

布袋

bù dài

布袋 (bù dài) literally means 'cloth bag' — 布

袋子

dài zi

袋子 (dài zi) is a general, neutral term for 'bag

环卫

huánwèi

‘环卫’ is a compound noun formed from 环 (huán,

后卫

hòuwèi

后卫 (hòuwèi) literally combines 后 (hòu, 'behi

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,