Browse "Places" 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.

终端

zhōng duān

Terminal (zhōng duān) is a technical noun borrow

终点

zhōng diǎn

终点 literally means 'end point' — combining 终 (

信箱

xìn xiāng

‘信箱’ (xìn xiāng) literally combines ‘信’ (

行李箱

xínglǐ xiāng

'Xínglǐ xiāng' literally means 'travel belongin

矮墙

ǎi qiáng

‘矮墙’ literally means ‘short wall’ or ‘low w

目录

mù lù

'目录' (mù lù) literally combines '目' (mù), me

地盘

dì pán

‘地盘’ literally combines ‘地’ (dì), meaning

地皮

dì pí

‘地皮’ literally means 'earth skin' — combining

业界

yè jiè

业界 (yè jiè) literally combines 业 (yè), meani

学界

xué jiè

‘学界’ literally combines ‘学’ (xué), meaning

国界

guó jiè

‘国界’ (guó jiè) literally combines ‘国’ (gu

环绕

huán rào

环绕 is a compound verb meaning 'to surround' or '

特区

tè qū

‘特区’ (tè qū) literally means ‘special zone

少爷

shào yé

'Shào yé' literally combines 'shào' (young, jun

爬山

pá shān

‘爬山’ literally means ‘to climb a mountain’

烧纸

shāo zhǐ

'Shāo zhǐ' literally means 'to burn paper' — th

红灯笼

hóng dēng long

A hóng dēng long (red lantern) is a traditional

路灯

lù dēng

‘路灯’ (lù dēng) literally means ‘road light

炼油

liàn yóu

'Liàn yóu' literally means 'to refine oil' — co

炼钢

liàn gāng

炼钢 (liàn gāng) literally means 'to refine stee

日照

rìzhào

'Rìzhào' literally combines 'rì' (sun) and 'zh

照明

zhàomíng

Zhàomíng literally combines zhào (to shine, ill

澡盆

zǎo pén

‘澡盆’ literally combines 澡 (zǎo), meaning ‘b

澡堂

zǎo táng

‘澡堂’ (zǎo táng) literally combines ‘澡’ (z

满族

Mǎn zú

满族 (Mǎn zú) refers to the Manchu ethnic group,

清朝

Qīng Cháo

The term Qīng Cháo (Qing Dynasty) refers to the

净土

jìng tǔ

‘净土’ (jìng tǔ) literally means ‘pure land’

小河

xiǎo hé

'Xiǎo hé' literally means 'small river' — 小 (x

河岸

hé àn

河岸 (hé àn) literally combines 河 (hé), meanin

河边

hé biān

河边 (hé biān) literally means 'river side' — c

过河

guò hé

'Guò hé' literally means 'to cross a river'—'gu

河水

hé shuǐ

‘Hé shuǐ’ literally means ‘river water’ — i

黄河

Huáng Hé

The Yellow River (Huáng Hé) is China’s second-l

路段

lù duàn

路段 (lù duàn) literally combines 路 (lù), mean

安检

ānjiǎn

安检 is a compound noun meaning 'security check'

望江楼

wàng jiāng lóu

Wàng Jiāng Lóu literally means 'Pavilion Overlo

钟楼

zhōng lóu

‘钟楼’ (zhōng lóu) literally means ‘bell towe

酒楼

jiǔ lóu

‘酒楼’ literally means ‘wine building’ — ‘酒

教学楼

jiào xué lóu

‘教学楼’ literally means ‘teaching-building’ a

楼房

lóu fáng

楼房 (lóu fáng) literally combines 楼 (lóu), me