Search for a single Chinese character
How do I input Chinese?
Loading
0
/
2435

No Characters here yet

sǒu
old man, *skeleton
臼+丨+又
rib cage + stick + right hand
Character Notes

Picture a rib cage, spine and pelvic bones.

Sometimes an old man gets so skeletal, you can see his rib cage.

Character Comparison

inside, *computer
Character Notes

In the movie Inside Out, emotions are stored in something like a computer.

alternative breakdown: 田+土 field + soil; anciently, a li was a measurement of distance one could use to measure a field

as a component: “里字旁”

Character Comparison

chǔ
put in storage
亻 + 诸zhū
persona + various
Character Notes

your persona puts various things in storage like a microphone and some Wild West hero novels

Character Comparison

jīn
front of a garment
衤 + 禁jìn
clothing + prohibit
Character Notes

You are prohibited from copying the style of the front of my garment.

Character Comparison

pen
⺮ + 毛
bamboo + fur
Character Notes

"In this class students will construct their own pens out of bamboo and fur." (Camp Bamboo)

Character Comparison

gān
dry [adj.], *clothesline
Character Notes

as a component: “干字旁”

Character Comparison
千qiān thousand

sentence [n.]
勹 + 口
bound up + mouth
Character Notes

a sentence binds up what we say with a period

Character Comparison
Series

rén
benevolence
亻rén + 二
persona + two
Character Notes

your persona’s benevolence goes both ways (people give to her, she gives to others)

Character Comparison

niǔ
New York
纟 + 丑chǒu
thread + clown
Character Notes

in New York street performers have threads like clowns

Character Comparison

chūn
springtime
𡗗 + 日
bonsai + sun
Character Notes

with the sun rising earlier in springtime, the bonsai starts growing again

Character Comparison
Series

xià
terrify
口 + 下
mouth + below
Character Notes

jaw drops in terror

Character Comparison
Series

suì
satisfy
丷 + 豕 + 辶
horns + sow + road
Character Notes

Satisfied: Horns on a Sow  Despite hard times, country fairs are alive and well. This self-satisfied sow, with horns on her head, is destined to win a prize. (1930's On the Road)

Character Comparison

bàng
close to
亻 + 旁páng
persona + side/Columbus
Character Notes

Deep thoughts by Prince Columbus: “The person at your side is close to you.”

Character Comparison

cháo
tide
氵 + 朝cháo
water + dynasty
Character Notes

Like the water of tides, dynasties come and go.

Character Comparison

bāo
wrap [v.]
勹bāo + 已
bound up + snakeskin
Character Notes

package wrapped or bound up in snakeskin

Character Comparison

zhào
illuminate
日 + 召zhào + 灬
sun + summon + cooking fire
Character Notes

summon the sun or cooking fire to illuminate (expose) photographic paper

Character Comparison
Series

plan [n.]
讠 + 十
microphone + ten/needle
Character Notes

You say in a microphone: “Here’s the plan” and list ten ways to avoid getting a shot.

Character Comparison
Series

zèng
make a present of
贝 + 曾céng
shells + gremlin
Character Notes

should have made a present of shells rather than a gremlin

Character Comparison

jīng
startled
忄 + 京jīng
meme + capital
Character Notes

meme of startled congresspeople at the capital

Character Comparison
Series
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Can't find what you're looking for? Have a better story for a character? Tell us about it.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.