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.

疾病

jí bìng

疾病 is a formal, written-term noun meaning 'disea

病人

bìng rén

病人 literally means 'sick person' — the characte

吃瓜

chī guā

'Chī guā' (literally 'eat melon') is internet sl

哈密瓜

hā mì guā

哈密瓜 is a type of sweet, orange-fleshed melon na

冬瓜

dōng guā

Winter melon (dōng guā) is a large, pale green g

南瓜

nán guā

‘Nán guā’ (pumpkin) is a common noun referring

班长

bān zhǎng

‘班长’ (bān zhǎng) literally means ‘class lea

班级

bān jí

班级 (bān jí) is a compound noun meaning 'class'

玩家

wán jiā

玩家 literally means 'play person' — combining 玩

玩具

wán jù

玩具 (wán jù) means 'toy' — an object designed

对牛弹琴

duì niú tán qín

'To play the lute to an ox' is a classical Chinese

老黄牛

lǎo huáng niú

‘Lǎo huáng niú’ literally means ‘old yellow

水牛

shuǐ niú

水牛 (shuǐ niú) literally means 'water ox' — 水

牛肉

niú ròu

‘Niú ròu’ literally means ‘cow meat’ and ref

火锅

huǒ guō

Hotpot (huǒ guō) is a popular Chinese cooking an

火柴

huǒ chái

火柴 (huǒ chái) literally means 'fire wood' —

灭火器

miè huǒ qì

'灭火器' literally combines three characters: '灭'

火灾

huǒ zāi

火灾 (huǒ zāi) literally combines 火 (‘fire’)

火山

huǒ shān

火山 (huǒ shān) literally means 'fire mountain'

游轮

yóu lún

‘游轮’ (yóu lún) literally combines ‘游’ (y

导游

dǎo yóu

‘导游’ (dǎo yóu) is a compound noun meaning ‘

冬泳

dōng yǒng

Winter swimming (dōng yǒng) is the practice of s

泳道

yǒng dào

‘泳道’ literally means ‘swimming path’ or ‘sw

泳池

yǒng chí

‘泳池’ is a compound noun meaning 'swimming pool

泳镜

yǒng jìng

‘泳镜’ (yǒng jìng) literally combines ‘泳’ (

泳衣

yǒng yī

泳衣 (yǒng yī) literally combines 泳 (yǒng), me

游泳

yóu yǒng

游泳 means 'swimming'—both as a physical activity

汽笛

qì dí

汽笛 is a compound noun meaning 'steam whistle'—a

汽船

qì chuán

汽船 (qì chuán) literally means 'steam ship' —

蒸汽

zhēng qì

Steam is the invisible, hot, gaseous form of water

汽水

qì shuǐ

汽水 (qì shuǐ) literally means 'vapor water' —

汽油

qì yóu

Gasoline, written as 汽油 (qì yóu), is a volatil

网球

wǎng qiú

'网球' literally means 'net ball'—a direct descri

地球

dì qiú

‘地球’ literally means ‘earth sphere’ — 地 (d

气球

qì qiú

气球 (qì qiú) literally means 'air ball' — 气 (

乒乓球

pīng pāng qiú

'Ping pong qiu' literally combines three character

足球

zú qiú

足球 literally means 'foot ball' — 足 (zú) means

篮球

lán qiú

‘篮球’ literally means ‘basket ball’—‘篮’ (

评比

píng bǐ

‘评比’ (píng bǐ) is a compound noun meaning ‘

比赛

bǐ sài

比赛 (bǐ sài) is a noun meaning 'competition' or