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.

战壕

zhàn háo

‘战壕’ (zhàn háo) literally combines 战 (zhàn

山沟

shān gōu

Shān gōu (mountain ravine) refers to a narrow, d

沟渠

gōu qú

‘沟渠’ (gōu qú) is a compound noun meaning ‘i

暗沟

àn gōu

‘暗沟’ literally means ‘hidden ditch’ — 暗 (

水沟

shuǐ gōu

‘水沟’ (shuǐ gōu) literally combines ‘水’ (s

发源

fā yuán

‘发源’ is a verb meaning ‘to originate (from)’

水源

shuǐ yuán

水源 (shuǐ yuán) literally combines 水 (shuǐ),

测绘

cè huì

测绘 (cè huì) is a formal noun meaning 'surveyin

淘金

táo jīn

淘金 (táo jīn) literally means 'to wash gold' —

淘宝

táo bǎo

‘Taobao’ (táo bǎo) is China’s largest consume

正统派

zhèng tǒng pài

‘正统派’ (zhèng tǒng pài) literally means ‘o

流派

liú pài

流派 (liú pài) literally combines 流 (liú), mea

学派

xué pài

‘学派’ (xué pài) literally combines ‘学’ (xu

洞穴

dòngxué

洞穴 (dòngxué) is a compound noun meaning 'cave'

山洞

shān dòng

山洞 (shān dòng) literally combines 山 (shān),

泛舟

fàn zhōu

泛舟 (fàn zhōu) literally means 'to float a boat

自治

zì zhì

‘自治’ (zì zhì) literally means ‘self-governa

治水

zhì shuǐ

‘治水’ literally means ‘to govern water’—comb

治国

zhì guó

治国 (zhì guó) literally means 'to govern a coun

治理

zhì lǐ

治理 (zhì lǐ) is a formal, often official or ins

沉没

chén mò

沉没 (chén mò) is a compound verb meaning 'to si

墨池

mò chí

"墨池" (mò chí) literally means "ink pool" — a

水池

shuǐ chí

‘水池’ (shuǐ chí) literally combines ‘水’ (s

游泳池

yóu yǒng chí

‘游泳池’ literally means ‘swimming pool’ — a

氤氲

yīn yūn

Yīn yūn is a poetic, literary adjective describi

沙滩毯

shā tān tǎn

A 'shā tān tǎn' is a portable, often waterproof

野营毯

yě yíng tǎn

'野营毯' (yě yíng tǎn) literally combines three

地毯

dì tǎn

地毯 (dì tǎn) literally combines 地 (dì, 'groun

回归

huí guī

回归 (huí guī) literally combines 回 (huí, 'to

东欧

Dōngōu

'Dōngōu' (Eastern Europe) is a geographical term

欧化

Ōuhuà

‘Ōuhuà’ (欧化) literally combines ‘Ōu’ (欧)

欧美

Ōuměi

Ōuměi (Europe and America) is a compound noun fo

欧盟

Ōuméng

欧盟 is the standard Chinese abbreviation for the

欧元

Ōuyuán

欧元 (Ōuyuán) is the official currency of 20 Eur

歇业

xiē yè

歇业 (xiē yè) is a formal verb meaning 'to suspe

使用权

shǐ yòng quán

'使用权' (shǐ yòng quán) literally combines '使

权限

quán xiàn

权限 (quán xiàn) literally combines 权 (quán),

一档

yī dǎng

‘一档’ (yī dǎng) literally combines ‘一’ (y

档案

dàng àn

‘档案’ (dàng àn) literally combines ‘档’ (d

冲锋枪

chōng fēng qiāng

"Chōngfēng qiāng" literally means "assault gun"