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.

膊子

bó zi

‘膊子’ (bó zi) is a regional term—primarily us

赤膊

chì bó

‘赤膊’ literally combines 赤 (chì), meaning ‘r

脾虚

pí xū

‘脾虚’ (pí xū) is a foundational diagnostic te

脾胃

pí wèi

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 'pí wèi'

脾气

pí qì

‘Pí qì’ literally combines ‘pí’ (spleen) —

胳肘子

gē zhǒu zi

‘Gē zhǒu zi’ is a colloquial, northern Chinese

胳臂

gē bei

‘胳臂’ (gē bei) is a colloquial, dialectal term

胳肢窝

gē zhi wō

‘胳肢窝’ literally breaks down as ‘gē’ (a var

胳膊

gē bo

‘Gēbo’ (胳膊) is the standard Mandarin word for

肯綮

kěn qìng

‘肯綮’ (kěn qìng) is a classical Chinese liter

肥皂

féi zào

肥皂 (féi zào) literally combines 肥 (féi, 'fat

瘦肥

shòu féi

'瘦肥' (shòu féi) is a fixed noun phrase meaning

肥料

féi liào

‘肥料’ (fèi liào) literally means ‘fat materi

肚肺汤

dǔ fèi tāng

'Dǔ fèi tāng' literally means 'stomach-and-lung

毛肚

máo dù

‘Máo dù’ literally means ‘hairy stomach’—‘

肚丝

dǔ sī

肚丝 (dǔ sī) literally means 'stomach threads'

猪肚

zhū dǔ

猪肚 literally means 'pig stomach' and refers spec

羊肚

yáng dǔ

羊肚 (yáng dǔ) literally means 'sheep stomach' a

牛肚

niú dǔ

牛肚 (niú dǔ) literally means 'cow stomach' and

职务

zhí wù

'职务' (zhíwù) literally combines '职' (zhí), m

职责

zhí zé

职责 (zhí zé) is a compound noun meaning 'respon

联播

liānbō

'Liānbō' literally combines 联 (lián), meaning

联名

liánmíng

‘联名’ (liánmíng) literally combines ‘联’ (l

联盟

liánméng

‘联盟’ (liánméng) is a compound noun meaning

联系

liánxì

联系 (liánxì) is a versatile word meaning both '

聚餐

jùcān

‘聚餐’ literally means ‘to gather (聚) + meal (

聚会

jùhuì

'聚会' (jùhuì) is a noun meaning 'a gathering' o

聘礼

pìn lǐ

聘礼 (pìn lǐ) refers to the traditional gifts or

聘书

pìn shū

聘书 (pìn shū) is a formal written document issu

耐力

nàilì

耐力 (nàilì) literally combines 耐 (nài), meani

羽扇

yǔshàn

A yǔshàn (feather fan) is a traditional Chinese

羽化

yǔhuà

‘Yǔhuà’ literally means 'feather transformatio

羽翼

yǔyì

羽翼 literally means 'feathers and wings'—'羽' (y

羽绒

yǔróng

‘羽绒’ (yǔróng) literally combines ‘羽’ (yǔ

羽毛球

yǔmáoqiú

‘羽毛球’ literally means ‘feather ball’ — com

羽毛

yǔmáo

‘羽毛’ (yǔmáo) literally combines ‘羽’ (yǔ)

羡慕症

xiàn mù zhèng

'羡慕症' (xiàn mù zhèng) is a playful, internet

羡慕的眼光

xiàn mù de yǎn guāng

羡慕的眼光 literally means 'the gaze of admiration

羡慕嫉妒恨

xiàn mù jí dù hèn

'Xiàn mù jí dù hèn' is a humorous, internet-b

羞耻

xiū chǐ

羞耻 (xiū chǐ) is a compound noun meaning 'shame