Browse Words — Learn Chinese Through Stories

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

洪亮

hóng liàng

洪亮 (hóng liàng) is an adjective describing a v

敞亮

chǎng liàng

敞亮 (chǎng liàng) is a compound adjective forme

亮相

liàng xiàng

"Liàng xiàng" literally means 'to show one's app

天亮

tiān liàng

天亮 literally means 'sky brightens' — 天 (tiān)

明亮

míng liàng

明亮 (míng liàng) is an adjective meaning 'brigh

京味儿

jīng wèir

'Jīng wèir' literally combines 'jīng' (capital,

京津

jīng jīn

‘京津’ is a geographical abbreviation formed by

京师

jīng shī

‘京师’ is a classical Chinese term meaning 'impe

京城

jīng chéng

京城 literally means 'capital city'—'京' (jīng)

南京

Nán jīng

Nanjing is the name of a major city in eastern Chi

北京

Běi jīng

Beijing is the capital city of the People’s Repub

五大

wǔ dà

'Wǔ dà' literally means 'five major' and functio

五颜六色

wǔ yán liù sè

‘Wǔ yán liù sè’ literally means ‘five faces

五角星

wǔ jiǎo xīng

'Wǔ jiǎo xīng' literally means 'five-angle star

五岁

wǔ suì

'Wǔ suì' literally combines the numeral 五 (wǔ,

五十

wǔ shí

五十 (wǔ shí) is the Chinese numeral for 'fifty'

五月

wǔ yuè

‘五月’ literally means ‘five month’ and is the

九牛一毛

jiǔ niú yī máo

‘Jiǔ niú yī máo’ literally means 'nine oxen,

三九

sān jiǔ

‘Sān jiǔ’ (三九) refers to the coldest period

九岁

jiǔ suì

'九岁' (jiǔ suì) literally combines the numeral

九州

jiǔ zhōu

‘九州’ (jiǔ zhōu) literally means ‘Nine Provi

九点

jiǔ diǎn

'九点' literally combines the numeral 九 (jiǔ, 'n

九月

jiǔ yuè

‘九月’ literally means ‘nine month’ and is the

七彩

qī cǎi

‘七彩’ literally means ‘seven colors’ and evok

七点

qī diǎn

'七点' (qī diǎn) literally combines the numeral

七岁

qī suì

‘七岁’ literally means ‘seven years’ and funct

七天

qī tiān

七天 literally means 'seven days' and functions as

七星

qī xīng

‘七星’ literally means ‘seven stars’ and most