兰 (lán) — orchid; fragrance (especially of orchids); (figurative) moral excellence, noble character
Definition
Literary/classical name for the orchid (兰花), often used in writing or as a surname. Carries strong cultural symbolism of nobility and integrity in classical Chinese — unlike everyday 兰花, this single character is a poetic, compressed form.
noun
orchidfragrance (especially of orchids)(figurative) moral excellencenoble character
Measure word · 株
Examples
- 兰。Zhè pén lán kāi huā le.This pot of orchids has bloomed.
- 兰。Mǎn shì lán xiāng.The room is filled with orchid fragrance.
- 兰。lán Xiàng zhēng gāo jié.Orchids symbolize nobility.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 蘭; 兰 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎoplant
Sound part声符shēngfú
闌
闌lán蘭lán
Same sound today
In the traditional form 蘭, 艹 marks it as a plant and 闌 stands for the sound; the simplified 兰 is a later shorthand, not the original parts.
Appears in
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