花冠 (huā guàn) — garland (of flowers); decorative hat or cap

Definition

Literally 'flower crown'. Refers both to a garland or wreath of fresh flowers worn on the head, and to an ornate ceremonial hat or headdress adorned with flowers.

noun
garland (of flowers)decorative hat or cap
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 花冠。
    Tā tóu shàng dài le yí gè měi lì de huā guàn.
    She wore a beautiful garland on her head.
  • 花冠。
    Xīn niáng de huā guàn shàng xiāng mǎn le xiān huā.
    The bride's headpiece was adorned with fresh flowers.
  • 花冠。
    Gǔ dài guān yuán zài diǎn lǐ shàng huì dài tè zhì de huā guàn.
    Ancient officials would wear special decorated hats during ceremonies.

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.

花huāflower
冠guāncrown/hat

The 花 flower and 冠 crown make a flower crown or garland.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà花
Same sound today

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

Open 花 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
冖冖mìhat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán冠guàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

冠 shows a hand putting a hat on a head: 寸 is the hand, 冖 is the hat, and 元 is the head.

Open 冠 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.