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.

元首

yuán shǒu

‘元首’ (yuán shǒu) literally combines 元 (yuá

佛像

fó xiàng

佛像 (fó xiàng) literally means 'Buddha image'

伞兵

sǎn bīng

‘伞兵’ literally means ‘umbrella soldier’ — a

降落伞

jiàng luò sǎn

'Jiàng luò sǎn' literally means 'descend-fall-u

太阳伞

tài yáng sǎn

'太阳伞' (tài yáng sǎn) literally means 'sun um

借宿

jiè sù

借宿 means 'to stay overnight as a guest' — liter

通讯

tōng xùn

‘通讯’ (tōng xùn) is a noun meaning ‘communic

前任

qián rèn

‘前任’ (qián rèn) literally combines ‘前’ (q

位置

wèi zhì

位置 (wèi zhì) literally combines 位 (wèi), mea

世袭

shì xí

'Shì xí' literally combines 'shì' (generation,

世界

shì jiè

世界 (shì jiè) literally combines 世 (shì), mea

把手

bǎ shǒu

把手 (bǎ shǒu) literally combines 把 (bǎ), mean

基业

jī yè

基业 (jī yè) literally combines 基 (jī), meanin

当选

dāng xuǎn

'当选' is a verb meaning 'to be elected' — it des

本土化

běn tǔ huà

'Běntǔhuà' literally combines 'běn' (original,

现代化

xiàn dài huà

现代化 (xiàn dài huà) literally means 'becoming

电力

diàn lì

电力 (diàn lì) literally combines 电 (diàn), me

法律

fǎ lǜ

法律 (fǎ lǜ) means 'law' or 'statute' — the for

法国

Fǎ guó

法国 (Fǎguó) is the Chinese name for the Europea

行业

hángyè

行业 (hángyè) means 'industry' or 'trade' — a b

银行

yínháng

'银行' (yínháng) literally combines '银' (yín),

行人

xíngrén

行人 (xíngrén) literally combines 行 (xíng), me

四方

sì fāng

‘四方’ literally means ‘four directions’—nort

一方

yī fāng

一方 literally means 'one side' or 'one part', com

方向

fāng xiàng

方向 (fāng xiàng) literally combines 方 (fāng),

种族

zú zhǒng

‘种族’ (zǔ zhǒng) literally combines ‘种’ (z

源于

yuán yú

源于 is a prepositional phrase meaning 'originate

黑板

hēi bǎn

Blackboard (hēi bǎn) is a noun referring to a la

领事馆

lǐngshìguǎn

A consulate (领事馆) is an official diplomatic off

体育馆

tǐyùguǎn

‘体育馆’ (tǐyùguǎn) literally means ‘body-cu

博物馆

bówùguǎn

'Bówùguǎn' literally combines three characters:

图书馆

túshūguǎn

图书馆 (túshūguǎn) literally means 'picture-boo

饭馆

fànguǎn

饭馆 (fànguǎn) literally combines 饭 (fàn), mea

零售

líng shòu

'Retail' refers to the sale of goods or services d

零件

líng jiàn

'Líng jiàn' literally combines 'líng' (zero, fr

雪地

xuě dì

‘雪地’ literally combines ‘雪’ (xuě, ‘snow’

雪山

xuě shān

‘雪山’ literally means ‘snow mountain’ — a co

阴森

yīn sēn

Yīn sēn describes a place or atmosphere that fee

阴雨

yīn yǔ

‘阴雨’ literally combines 阴 (yīn, meaning ‘ov

阴凉

yīn liáng

‘阴凉’ (yīn liáng) is an adjective meaning ‘c