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.

老汉

lǎo hàn

‘老汉’ (lǎo hàn) literally combines 老 (lǎo,

汉朝

Hàn cháo

The Han Dynasty (Hàn Cháo) was a major imperial

汉服

Hàn fú

‘Hànfú’ (汉服) literally means ‘Han clothing

汉语

Hàn yǔ

‘汉语’ (Hàn yǔ) literally means ‘Han language

汉族

Hàn zú

‘汉族’ (Hàn zú) refers to the Han ethnic group

漂亮

piào liang

漂亮 (piào liang) is a common adjective meaning '

漂白

piǎo bái

‘漂白’ (piǎo bái) is a verb meaning ‘to bleac

漂洗

piāo xǐ

‘漂洗’ is a compound verb meaning 'to rinse (clo

漂移

piāo yí

漂移 (piāo yí) literally combines 漂 (to float,

漂浮

piāo fú

漂浮 means 'to float (on the surface)' — specific

漂流

piāo liú

‘漂流’ (piāo liú) literally combines ‘漂’ (t

没关系

méi guān xì

‘没关系’ (méi guān xì) is a common, polite in

没时间

méi shí jiān

‘没时间’ literally means ‘not have time’ and f

没用

méi yòng

没用 (méi yòng) is an adjective meaning 'useless

没人

méi rén

"Méi rén" literally combines 没 (méi, meaning '

还没

hái méi

‘还没’ is an adverbial phrase meaning ‘not yet

没有

méi yǒu

没有 (méi yǒu) is the standard Mandarin negation

煤气

méi qì

‘煤气’ (méi qì) literally means ‘coal gas’—

氧气

yǎng qì

氧气 (yǎng qì) is a compound noun meaning 'oxyge

力气

lì qì

‘Lì qì’ literally combines ‘lì’ (force, str

空气

kōng qì

‘空气’ (kōng qì) literally combines ‘空’ (k

狂欢

kuáng huān

‘狂欢’ literally combines ‘狂’ (kuáng), meani

欢庆

huān qìng

欢庆 (huān qìng) is a compound verb meaning 'to

欢送

huān sòng

欢送 (huān sòng) literally combines 欢 (‘joy, d

欢喜

huān xǐ

欢喜 (huān xǐ) is a compound word formed from tw

欢乐

huān lè

欢乐 (huān lè) is a compound noun meaning 'joy'

欢迎

huān yíng

欢迎 (huān yíng) means 'welcome' and functions b

折叠椅

zhé dié yǐ

A zhédié yǐ (folding chair) is a portable chair