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.

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

比例

bǐ lì

比例 (bǐ lì) means 'ratio' or 'proportion' — th

退步

tuì bù

'退步' (tuì bù) literally means 'to step back'

步伐

bù fá

‘步伐’ literally combines ‘步’ (bù), meaning

步骤

bù zhòu

步骤 (bù zhòu) means 'step' or 'stage' in a sequ

儿歌

ér gē

‘Ér gē’ literally means ‘child song’ — ‘é

民歌

mín gē

‘Mín gē’ literally combines ‘mín’ (people,

国歌

guó gē

‘国歌’ literally means ‘country song’ — combi

歌手

gē shǒu

歌手 literally means 'song person' — combining 歌

歌曲

gē qǔ

歌曲 (gē qǔ) means 'song'—specifically a musica

上次

shàng cì

'Shàng cì' literally combines 'shàng' (meaning

次序

cì xù

次序 means 'order' or 'sequence' — the fixed or l

次品

cì pǐn

次品 (cì pǐn) literally combines 次 (cì), meani

下次

xià cì

'下次' (xià cì) literally combines '下' (xià),

次数

cì shù

‘次数’ (cì shù) is a noun meaning ‘number of

享乐

xiǎng lè

享乐 (xiǎng lè) literally combines 享 (to enjoy,

可乐

kě lè

‘Kě lè’ is the Chinese word for ‘cola’, a ca

乐趣

lè qù

‘乐趣’ (lè qù) is a compound noun meaning ‘pl

条子

tiáozi

'条子' (tiáozi) is a colloquial noun meaning 'not

条形码

tiáoxíngmǎ

A barcode is a machine-readable pattern of paralle

条理

tiáolǐ

条理 (tiáolǐ) literally combines 条 (tiáo), mea

条款

tiáokuǎn

‘条款’ (tiáokuǎn) is a formal noun meaning ‘c

条件

tiáojiàn

‘条件’ (tiáojiàn) is a noun meaning 'condition

望日

wàng rì

‘望日’ literally means ‘looking-at-the-moon day

望远镜

wàng yuǎn jìng

‘望远镜’ literally means ‘look-far-mirror’ —

晴雨表

qíng yǔ biǎo

晴雨表 literally means 'clear-weather–rain–meter

雨过天晴

yǔ guò tiān qíng

‘Yǔ guò tiān qíng’ literally means ‘after t

晴天

qíng tiān

晴天 literally means 'clear sky day' — 晴 (qíng)

晚年

wǎn nián

晚年 (wǎn nián) literally combines 晚 (‘late’)

傍晚

bàng wǎn

傍晚 (bàng wǎn) literally combines 傍 (bàng), m

晚霞

wǎn xiá

晚霞 (wǎn xiá) literally combines 晚 (wǎn), mea

晚会

wǎn huì

‘晚会’ (wǎn huì) literally combines ‘晚’ (w

晚上

wǎn shàng

‘晚上’ (wǎn shàng) literally combines ‘晚’ (

旅途

lǚ tú

旅途 literally combines 旅 (lǚ), meaning 'to trav

旅店

lǚ diàn

‘旅店’ (lǚ diàn) is a compound noun meaning ‘

旅行社

lǚ xíng shè

'Lǚxíngshè' literally combines three characters

旅客

lǚ kè

旅客 (lǚ kè) is a compound noun meaning 'passeng

旅游

lǚ yóu

‘旅游’ (lǚ yóu) is a compound word meaning ‘t

旁证

páng zhèng

‘旁证’ literally means ‘side evidence’—‘旁’