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.

茶杯

chá bēi

‘Chábēi’ (茶杯) literally combines two charact

一杯

yī bēi

‘一杯’ (yī bēi) is a measure phrase meaning 'o

干杯

gān bēi

'Gān bēi' literally means 'dry cup'—'gān' (dry

杯子

bēi zi

‘杯子’ (bēi zi) is a common noun meaning 'cup'

前期

qián qī

前期 literally means 'front period' — 前 (qián)

周期

zhōu qī

周期 (zhōu qī) literally combines 周 (zhōu), me

逾期

yú qī

‘逾期’ literally means 'to exceed the period' —

期刊

qī kān

期刊 (qīkān) is a formal noun meaning 'periodica

期限

qī xiàn

期限 (qī xiàn) is a compound noun meaning 'deadl

游泳服

yóuyǒng fú

Swimsuit (yóuyǒng fú) is a compound noun formed

民族服装

mínzú fúzhuāng

‘民族服装’ literally means ‘ethnic group clothi

制服

zhì fú

制服 (zhì fú) literally means 'to make (制) clot

工作服

gōngzuò fú

工作服 (gōngzuò fú) literally means 'work cloth

校服

xiào fú

‘校服’ (xiào fú) literally means ‘school clot

衣服

yī fu

‘Yīfu’ means ‘clothes’ or ‘clothing’ in gen

朋友聚会

péng you jù huì

'Friends' gathering' refers to an informal, social

朋友家

péng you jiā

'Friends' home' is a compound noun formed by combi

新朋友

xīn péng you

'Xīn péng you' literally means 'new friend' — a

好朋友

hǎo péng you

'好朋友' literally combines 'hǎo' (good), 'péng'

老朋友

lǎo péng you

'Lǎo péng you' literally combines three characte

明月

míng yuè

‘Míng yuè’ literally combines 明 (míng), mean

每月

měi yuè

每月 (měi yuè) literally combines 每 (měi), mea

月份

yuè fèn

‘月份’ (yuè fèn) is a noun meaning ‘month’ a

月亮

yuè liang

‘月亮’ (yuè liàng) is the most common colloqui

书包

shū bāo

‘Shū bāo’ literally means ‘book bag’ — comb

读书

dú shū

'读书' literally combines '读' (dú), meaning 'to

课本

kè běn

‘课本’ (kè běn) literally combines ‘课’ (kè

书写

shū xiě

书写 (shū xiě) is a verb meaning 'to write (by h