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.

期末

qī mò

'期末' (qī mò) literally combines '期' (qī), me

三更

sān gēng

‘三更’ (sān gēng) literally means ‘third watc

更年期

gēng nián qī

'Gēng nián qī' literally means 'changing-year p

公历

gōng lì

‘公历’ (gōng lì) literally means ‘public cale

农历

nóng lì

农历 (nóng lì) literally means 'agricultural cal

历法

lì fǎ

‘历法’ (lì fǎ) literally combines ‘历’ (lì)

月历

yuè lì

‘月历’ (yuè lì) literally means ‘month calend

立春

lì chūn

Lìchūn is the first of the 24 traditional Chines

春雨

chūn yǔ

'Spring rain' (chūn yǔ) literally combines 春 (c

春游

chūn yóu

‘Chūn yóu’ literally combines ‘chūn’ (sprin

春风

chūn fēng

春风 (chūn fēng) literally means 'spring wind'

春节

chūn jié

春节 (chūn jié) literally means 'Spring Festival

春天

chūn tiān

春天 (chūn tiān) literally combines 春 (chūn),

易主

yì zhǔ

‘易主’ literally means ‘to change master’ —

变易

biàn yì

变易 (biàn yì) is a formal, literary noun meanin

交易

jiāo yì

交易 (jiāo yì) means 'transaction' or 'deal' —

公斤

gōng jīn

‘公斤’ is the standard Mandarin term for ‘kilog

市斤

shì jīn

Shìjīn (市斤) is a traditional Chinese unit of m

三斤

sān jīn

'Sān jīn' literally means 'three catties' — a t

半斤

bàn jīn

半斤 (bàn jīn) literally means 'half a catty' —

一斤

yī jīn

'Yī jīn' literally means 'one catty', a traditio

料理

liào lǐ

料理 (liào lǐ) is a versatile word with two prim

调料

tiáo liào

‘调料’ (tiáo liào) literally combines ‘调’ (

预料

yù liào

‘预料’ is a compound word meaning 'to anticipate

饲料

sì liào

‘饲料’ (sì liào) literally combines ‘饲’ (to

塑料

sù liào

'Plastic' is a synthetic material made from polyme

材料

cái liào

材料 (cái liào) literally combines 材 (cái), me

文凭

wén píng

‘文凭’ (wén píng) is a noun meaning ‘diploma

语文

yǔ wén

语文 (yǔ wén) literally means 'language and lite

文章

wén zhāng

‘Wén zhāng’ literally combines ‘wén’ (liter

文学

wén xué

‘Wénxué’ (文学) literally combines ‘wén’ (

文化

wén huà

‘Wén huà’ (文化) literally combines ‘wén’ (

变故

biàn gù

‘变故’ literally combines ‘变’ (biàn), meanin

缘故

yuán gù

缘故 (yuán gù) is a formal noun meaning 'reason'

故乡

gù xiāng

‘Gùxiāng’ literally combines ‘gù’ (meaning

故事

gù shi

故事 (gù shì) means 'story' — a narrative with

依据

jù yī

‘依据’ (jù yī) is a formal noun meaning ‘basi

据点

jù diǎn

‘据点’ (jù diǎn) literally combines 据 (jù),

选择

xuǎn zé

选择 (xuǎn zé) means 'to choose' as a verb and '

换洗

huàn xǐ

‘换洗’ literally combines ‘huàn’ (to change,