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.

摆设

bǎi shè

‘摆设’ (bǎi shè) literally combines ‘摆’ (to

扩音

kuò yīn

‘扩音’ literally combines 扩 (kuò), meaning 'to

挤兑

jǐ duì

‘挤兑’ (jǐ duì) is a financial term referring

挤牙膏

jǐ yá gāo

‘挤牙膏’ literally means 'to squeeze toothpaste'

操守

cāo shǒu

操守 refers to a person’s moral integrity, ethica

操作

cāo zuò

操作 (cāo zuò) literally combines 操 (cāo), mea

挡箭牌

dǎng jiàn pái

‘挡箭牌’ literally means 'arrow-blocking board'

反击

fǎn jī

反击 literally means 'reverse strike' — 反 (fǎn)

捡漏

jiǎn lòu

‘捡漏’ literally means ‘to pick up a leak,’ bu

撞大运

zhuàng dà yùn

‘撞大运’ is an informal, vivid idiom meaning to

碰撞

pèng zhuàng

碰撞 (pèng zhuàng) literally combines 碰 (to tou

摩擦

mócā

摩擦 literally means 'rubbing'—the character 摩 (

摘星

zhāi xīng

‘摘星’ literally means ‘to pluck stars’—a viv

摘要

zhāi yào

摘要 (zhāi yào) literally means 'to pick out the

抢风

qiǎng fēng

‘抢风’ (qiǎng fēng) is a nautical term meaning

抢攻

qiǎng gōng

‘抢攻’ literally combines 抢 (to seize, snatch,

抢修

qiǎng xiū

'抢修' (qiǎng xiū) literally combines 抢 (qiǎng

抢滩

qiǎng tān

‘抢滩’ literally means ‘to rush onto the beach,

搜救

sōu jiù

搜救 is a compound noun meaning 'search and rescue

摇钱树

yáo qián shù

‘Yáo qián shù’ literally means ‘shake-money

摇篮

yáo lán

‘摇篮’ literally means ‘rocking basket’ — ‘

损人利己

sǔn rén lì jǐ

‘损人利己’ literally means ‘harm others and ben

损益

sǔn yì

损益 (sǔn yì) literally combines 损 (sǔn), mean

损耗

sǔn hào

损耗 (sǔn hào) is a noun meaning 'consumption' o

损失

sǔn shī

损失 (sǔn shī) is a noun meaning 'loss' or 'dama

构线

gòu xiàn

‘构线’ (gòu xiàn) literally means ‘to reach t

构数

gòu shù

‘构数’ (gòu shù) literally combines ‘构’ (g

构格

gòu gé

‘构格’ (gòu gé) is a formal noun meaning 'meet

插花

chā huā

插花 (chā huā) literally means 'to insert flower

插图

chā tú

‘插图’ (chā tú) literally combines ‘插’ (ch

插座

chā zuò

‘插座’ (chā zuò) literally means ‘insert seat

速描

sùmiáo

'Speed sketch' or 'quick sketch', 速描 refers to a

素描

sùmiáo

"Sùmiáo" literally combines 素 (sù), meaning "p

描写

miáoxiě

描写 (miáoxiě) is a literary noun meaning 'descr

措置

cuò zhì

‘措置’ is a formal noun meaning 'handling' or 'd

措辞

cuò cí

‘措辞’ (cuò cí) literally combines ‘措’ (to

措施

cuò shī

'措施' (cuò shī) is a formal noun meaning 'measu

失控行为

shī kòng xíng wéi

'失控行为' literally means 'lost-control behavior'

遥控

yáo kòng

遥控 (yáo kòng) literally means 'distant control

神采

shén cǎi

神采 (shén cǎi) is a compound noun meaning 'vita