Browse "Plants" 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.

皂荚

zào jiá

‘皂荚’ (zào jiá) is a noun referring to the lo

皂角

zào jiǎo

‘皂角’ (zào jiǎo) refers to the long, curved s

疯长

fēng zhǎng

‘疯长’ literally combines ‘疯’ (fēng, meaning

琉璃珠

liú lí zhū

琉璃珠 (liú lí zhū) literally means 'glazed bea

奇珍异宝

qí zhēn yì bǎo

‘奇珍异宝’ literally combines four characters:

玉器

yù qì

‘Yù qì’ literally means ‘jade vessel’ or ‘j

玉石

yù shí

‘Yù shí’ is a general term for jade in Chinese

再版

zài bǎn

再版 (zài bǎn) literally means 'again + edition'

灿烂

càn làn

‘灿烂’ is an adjective meaning ‘brilliant,’ ‘

腐烂

fǔ làn

腐烂 (fǔ làn) is a verb meaning 'to rot' or 'to

燃尽

rán jìn

燃尽 (rán jìn) is a verb meaning 'to burn up com

熬干

áo gān

熬干 (áo gān) is a compound verb meaning 'to sim

煮茶

zhǔ chá

煮茶 (zhǔ chá) literally means 'to boil tea' and

煤灰

méi huī

煤灰 (méi huī) literally combines 煤 (coal) and

煤炭

méi tàn

Coal is a black or brown combustible sedimentary r

烈火

liè huǒ

烈火 literally combines 烈 (liè), meaning 'intens

烈日

liè rì

烈日 literally combines 烈 (liè), meaning 'intens

炸豆腐

zhá dòu fu

炸豆腐 (zhá dòu fǔ) literally means 'fried bean

炮炼

páo liàn

炮炼 (páo liàn) is a classical and literary verb

炮香

pào xiāng

‘炮香’ (pào xiāng) is a culinary verb meaning

炮制

páo zhì

炮制 (páo zhì) literally combines 炮 (páo), mea

炭筆

tàn bǐ

‘炭筆’ (tàn bǐ) literally means ‘charcoal + p

竹炭

zhú tàn

Bamboo charcoal (zhú tàn) is a type of charcoal

木炭

mù tàn

木炭 (mù tàn) literally means 'wood charcoal' —

炒豆

chǎo dòu

炒豆 (chǎo dòu) literally means 'stir-fried bean

灰烬

huī jìn

灰烬 (huī jìn) literally combines 灰 (huī), mea

浏如

liú rú

‘浏如’ is a literary, poetic adjective describin

浓茶

nóng chá

‘浓茶’ literally means ‘strong tea’ — ‘浓’

浓重

nóng zhòng

‘浓重’ is an adjective meaning ‘heavy,’ ‘dens

浇铸

jiāo zhù

‘浇铸’ is a compound verb meaning ‘to cast (met

浇注

jiāo zhù

‘浇注’ is a compound verb meaning 'to pour (a li

浇灌

jiāo guàn

‘浇灌’ is a compound verb meaning ‘to irrigate

浇水

jiāo shuǐ

‘Jiāo shuǐ’ literally means ‘to pour water’

润物细无声

rùn wù xì wú shēng

This idiom literally means 'moistening things gent

本源

běn yuán

Běn yuán literally combines běn (‘root’ or ‘

词源

cí yuán

‘词源’ (cí yuán) literally means ‘word origin

潋浅

liàn jiān

‘潋浅’ is a poetic, literary compound adjective

漪浅

yī jiān

‘漪浅’ is a poetic, literary noun describing gen

淥浅

lù jiān

‘淥浅’ (lù jiān) is a poetic, literary adjecti

潺浅

chán jiān

潺浅 (chán jiān) is an archaic, poetic compound