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.

咖啡豆

kā fēi dòu

'咖啡豆' (kā fēi dòu) literally means 'coffee b

介质

jièzhì

'介质' (jièzhì) is a compound noun meaning 'medi

红日

hóng rì

红日 literally means 'red sun' — combining 红 (h

自然

zì rán

‘自然’ (zì rán) literally combines 自 (zì, 's

经典

jīng diǎn

经典 (jīng diǎn) is a noun meaning 'classic'—a

雨水

yǔ shuǐ

雨水 (yǔ shuǐ) literally combines 雨 (yǔ), mean

句读

jù dòu

‘Jù dòu’ refers to the traditional punctuation

西风

xī fēng

‘西风’ literally means 'west wind'—a compound n

西瓜

xī guā

‘Xīguā’ (西瓜) literally means ‘western melon

红茶

hóng chá

红茶 (hóng chá) literally means 'red tea' in Chi

绿茶

lǜ chá

'Lǜ chá' literally means 'green tea'—a widely c

茶叶

chá yè

'Chá yè' literally means 'tea leaf' — combining

苹蘩

píng fán

‘苹蘩’ (píng fán) is a classical Chinese compo

青苹

qīng píng

‘青苹’ (qīng píng) literally combines 青 (qīn

苹草

píng cǎo

‘苹草’ (píng cǎo) is a classical Chinese term

苹婆

píng pó

‘苹婆’ (píng pó) is a botanical term referring

浮萍

fú píng

‘浮萍’ (fú píng) is a noun referring to duckwe

米酒

mǐ jiǔ

Mǐ jiǔ (rice wine) is a traditional fermented al

玉米

yù mǐ

玉米 (yù mǐ) literally means 'jade rice' — 玉 (

米粉

mǐ fěn

米粉 (mǐ fěn) literally means 'rice powder' or '

小米

xiǎo mǐ

Xiǎo mǐ (millet) is a small, round, yellowish gr

大米

dà mǐ

大米 (dà mǐ) literally means 'big rice' — but i

果酱

guǒ jiàng

果酱 (guǒ jiàng) literally combines 果 (guǒ), m

果皮

guǒ pí

果皮 (guǒ pí) literally combines 果 (guǒ), mean

果汁

guǒ zhī

‘果汁’ (guǒ zhī) literally means ‘fruit juice

苹果

píng guǒ

苹果 (píng guǒ) means 'apple' — the crisp, roun

东风

dōng fēng

'Dōng fēng' literally means 'east wind' — combi

明月

míng yuè

‘Míng yuè’ literally combines 明 (míng), mean

岁寒三友

suì hán sān yǒu

'Three friends of winter' is a classical Chinese i

汉字

hàn zì

汉字 (hàn zì) literally means 'Han character'—'

太阳

tài yáng

‘太阳’ (tài yáng) literally means ‘great yang

石块

shí kuài

石块 (shí kuài) literally combines 石 (shí), me

水墨

shuǐ mò

Shuǐ mò (ink wash) refers to a traditional Chine

水果

shuǐ guǒ

‘水果’ (shuǐ guǒ) literally means ‘water frui

三角形

sān jiǎo xíng

三角形 (sān jiǎo xíng) literally means 'three-c

瓜子

guā zi

‘Guāzi’ literally means ‘melon seed’, but in

出产

chū chǎn

出产 (chū chǎn) is a verb meaning 'to produce' o

著作

zhù zuò

著作 (zhù zuò) is a formal noun meaning 'literar

和风

hé fēng

‘和风’ literally combines 和 (hé, meaning 'harm

Born from a diviner’s knife cutting ritual shells