兰花 (lán huā) — orchid | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

兰 is the orchid, especially valued in Chinese culture as a symbol of elegance, refinement, and noble character (兰花).

noun

orchid

Measure word · 棵

Examples

兰花。
Zhè pén lán huā kāi dé fēi cháng piào liang.
This pot of orchids has bloomed very beautifully.
兰花。
Tā xǐ huan zài yáng tái shàng zhǒng jǐ pén lán huā.
She likes to grow a few pots of orchids on the balcony.
兰花。
lán huā Zài zhōng guó wén huà zhōng xiàng zhēng zhe gāo yǎ.
Orchids symbolize elegance in Chinese culture.

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.

“兰” names the orchid, and “花” means flower; together they refer to orchid blossoms.

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 蘭; 兰 is its simplified writing.

艹闌蘭

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.

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

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Plants & Flowers

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