(ruǐ) — stamen or pistil (the reproductive part of a flower); often used in compounds like 花蕊

Definition

A bound-form botanical term meaning 'stamen or pistil' — the reproductive parts of a flower. Rarely used alone; nearly always appears in the compound 花蕊.

bound form
stamen or pistil (the reproductive part of a flower)often used in compounds like 花蕊

Examples

  • Zhè duǒ huā de huā ruǐ shì huáng sè de.
    The stamen/pistil of this flower is yellow.
  • Mì fēng zài huā ruǐ shàng cǎi mì.
    Bees collect nectar on the flower's stamen/pistil.
  • Zhí wù xué jiā zǐ xì yán jiū le zhè zhǒng huā de huā ruǐ jié gòu.
    Botanists carefully studied the stamen/pistil structure of this flower.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
suǒruǐ
Same sound today

蕊 is built from 艸 and 惢: 艸 is the meaning part, and 惢 gives the sound.

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