红花 (hóng huā) — safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), used in Chine… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

In traditional Chinese medicine, 红花 (hónghuā) refers to safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), used in herbal remedies for circulation and menstrual issues. The literal reading 'red flower' appears mainly in literary or poetic contexts.

noun

safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)used in Chinese medicine(literary) red flower

Measure word · 朵

Examples

红花。
Tā hē le yì bēi hóng huā chá lái huǎn jiě tòng jīng.
She drank a cup of safflower tea to relieve menstrual cramps.
，红花。
Chūn tiān dào le, huā yuán lǐ de hóng huā kāi dé fēi cháng piào liang.
Spring arrived, and the red flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully.
红花。
Zhè zhǒng zhōng yào hán yǒu hóng huā hé dāng guī.
This Chinese medicine contains safflower and angelica.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

The '红' (red) describes the color of the '花' (flower).

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 紅; 红 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng紅hóng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 紅 puts 糸 (silk) next to 工, which gives the sound; the simplified 红 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Colors Plants & Flowers

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