Browse Characters — Learn Chinese Through Stories

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

luán

This elegant 10-stroke character isn’t just a tre

zàn

This 'gathering' character isn't about collecting

This 'beam' character hides a blade in its structu

chán

This rare character isn't just 'sandalwood' — it'

This ultra-rare character survives unchanged for 2

xiāng

This ultra-rare character is a 2,300-year-old 'cro

yǐn

A rare wood-shaping tool whose name morphed into a

yīng

Though it means ‘cherry,’ 樱 never appears alone

líng

This 'lattice' character hides a carpenter’s blue

xiāo

This towering 'tree' character hides a poetic secr

Its right side 举 means 'to lift' — a visual pun:

lóng

This ‘window’ isn’t glass and steel—it’s hand

chèn

A botanical deep-cut: 榇 isn’t just any tree — i

zhū

A botanical character where 'red' (朱) isn't just

This character looks like an oak tree standing tal

This unassuming 9-stroke character hides inside ev

zhū

This 14-stroke oak character hides a full ecologic

chú

This 'wardrobe' character hides a kitchen origin—

fèi

A 19-stroke botanical specialist — the only Chine

Though it looks like a simple tree character, 栎 h

This 'cabinet' character hides a 2,500-year-old le

gāo

This rare, wooden 'weapon case' character hides a

zhì

This 'comb' character hides a bamboo origin beneat

lu:2

This elegant palm-tree character hides a linguisti

This 'scull' character hides a fish-trap glyph ins

yōu

This 'harrow' character hides an ancient farming s

zhào

Looks like 'wood + lofty' — and it is: this elega

jiàn

This 'banister' character hides a prisoner's cage