When the formation data identifies 艸 / 艹 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
Grass
cǎo · forms 艸 / 艹
Unicode uses 艸 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is grass; Kangxi radical 140. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
72 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 72 characters.
苹píngapple; duckweed, ArtemisiaDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 平 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蘋.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 平Phonetic componentflat; level; calm
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 平
茶chátea; tea leaves; tea plantDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 余 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 余Phonetic componentextra; remaining
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 人 + 木
菜càivegetables; order, dish; foodDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 采 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 采Phonetic componentpick; pluck; gather; color
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 采
蘋píngapple; duckweed, ArtemisiaDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 頻 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 頻Phonetic componentfrequency
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 頻
药yàodrugs, medicine; the leaf of the Dahurian angelica plantDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 约 represents the sound. Simplified form of 藥.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 约Phonetic componentmake appointment; invite; approximately
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 约
著zheto show, to prove, to make knownDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 者Phonetic component-er; [one that...]
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 者
藥yàodrugs, medicine; the leaf of the Dahurian angelica plantDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 樂 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 樂Phonetic componenthappy; music
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 樂
节jiéfestival; knot, joint; segment; to economize, to saveDetails+
Formation: Simplified form of 節. Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 即 represents the sound.
- 艹Simplified formgrass
- 卩Simplified formperson
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹
花huāflower, blossom; to spend (time or money)Details+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 化 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 化Phonetic componentchange; transform
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 化
草cǎograss, herbs; straw, thatchDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 早 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 早Phonetic componentearly; morning
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 早
蓝lánblue; indigo plant; surnameDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 藍.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 监Phonetic componentsupervise; inspect
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 监
蕉jiāobanana, plantainDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 焦 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 焦Phonetic componentburnt; scorched
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 焦
藍lánblue; indigo plant; surnameDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 監 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 監Phonetic componentsupervise; inspect
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 監
艺yìart; talent, ability; craftDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 乙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 藝.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 乙Phonetic component2nd heavenly stem
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 乙
苦kǔbitter; hardship, sufferingDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 古 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 古Phonetic componentancient; old
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 古
获huòto get, to obtain, to receive, to siezeDetails+
Formation: Simplified form of 獲. Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 蒦 represents the sound.
- 犭Semantic componentdog
- 蒦Simplified form[phonetic component]
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 犾
萄táograpesDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 匋 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 匋Phonetic componentpottery
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 匋
落luòto fall, to drop; surplus, net incomeDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 洛 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 洛Phonetic componenta river in the Shanxi province; a city
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 洛
葡púgrapes; Portugal, PortugueseDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 匍 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 匍Phonetic componentcrawl; lie prostrate
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 匍
葉yèleaf, page; surnameDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 枼 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 枼Phonetic componentflat piece of wood
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 枼
藝yìart; talent, ability; craftDetails+
Formation: Originally written as 埶. The 艹 and 云 components were added later for unknown reasons.
- 艹Role uncleargrass
- 埶Semantic componentskill; art
- 云Role unclearcloud
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 埶 + 云
范fànpattern, model, example; surnameDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 氾 represents the sound. Simplified form of 範.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 氾Phonetic componentfloat
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 氾
苗miáosprouts; Miao nationalityDetails+
Formation: Sprouts are plants (艹) that rise from the field (田).
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 田Semantic componentfield
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 田
英yīngpetal, flower, leaf; brave, heroic; EnglishDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 央 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 央Phonetic componentbeg; finish; middle
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 央
荐jiànto recommend; to recur, to repeatDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 存 represents the sound. Simplified form of 薦. Based on the original meaning "straw mat". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 存Phonetic componentexist; keep; survive
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 存
荣róngglory, honor; to flourish, to prosperDetails+
Formation: Simplified form of 榮. Depicts pieces of wood burning.
- 艹Simplified formgrass
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 木Pictographic componentwood; tree
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 冖 + 木
- Also indexed under
- 木 tree
華huáflowery; illustrious; ChineseDetails+
Formation: Pictograph of a flower. Originally used to mean "flower", now written as 花. The meaning later shifted to "blossoming", "flourishing" and "magnificent". The 艹 (grass) component was added in Seal script.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 十
营yíngcamp, barracks, army; to run, to manageDetails+
Formation: Simplified form of 營. Phonosemantic compound. 宮 represents the meaning and 熒 represents the sound.
- 宮Semantic componentpalace; temple
- 荧Phonetic componentglimmer; twinkle
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 冖 + 吕
蓋gàito cover, to hide, to protectDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 盍 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 盍Phonetic componentwhy not
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 盍
蔬shūvegetables, greensDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “plant”; 疏 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 疏
薄báothin, slight; meager, weak; poor, stingyDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 溥 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 溥Phonetic componentbig, great, vast; extensive, pervading, widespread
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 溥
薦jiànto recommend; to recur, to repeatDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 廌 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "straw mat". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 廌Phonetic componentunicorn
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 廌
藏cángto conceal, to hide; to hoard, to storeDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 臧 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 臧Phonetic componentgood; right
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 臧
芒mángblade; ray; silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensisDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 亡 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 亡Phonetic componentdie; flee
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 亡
苍cāngdark blue; deep green; old, hoaryDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 仓 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蒼.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 仓Phonetic componentgranary; barn; storehouse
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 仓
苏sūto awaken, to revive, to resurrect; used in transliterationsDetails+
Formation: Simplified form of 蘇. Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 穌 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 办Simplified formdo; manage; deal with
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 办
芽yábud, shoot, sproutDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 牙 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 牙Phonetic componenttooth
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 牙
苟gǒucareless, frivolous, illicit; but, if onlyDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 句Phonetic componentsentence; phrase; hook
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 句
茎jīngstem, stalkDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: grass
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹
茂màothick, lush, dense; talentedDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 戊 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 戊Phonetic componentfifth Heavenly stem; battle-axe
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 戊
若ruòif, supposing, assuming; similarDetails+
Formation: Pictograph of a person smoothing out their hair with their hands. Based on the original meaning "smooth". The meaning later shifted to "obedient" and "conform to". The 口 (mouth) component was added later when the character became more abstract.
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 𠂇Pictographic componentleft hand
- 口Semantic componentmouth
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 右
荡dàngpond, pool; ripple, shake; to wash away, to wipe outDetails+
Compound formation: Hot water 汤 wiping out plant life 艹; 汤 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 汤
荒huāngwasteland, desert; uncultivatedDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 芒 represents the meaning and 川 represents the sound.
- 芒Semantic componentblade; ray; silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis
- 川Phonetic componentriver
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 芒 + 川
荤hūnnon-vegetarian food; garlic; a foul smellDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 军 represents the sound. Simplified form of 葷.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 军Phonetic componentarmy; military
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 军
茫mángvague, boundless; vast, widespreadDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “grass”; 汒 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 汒
莖jīngstem, stalkDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 巠 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 巠Phonetic componentloom
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 巠
莫mòcannot; do not; is not; negativeDetails+
Formation: Depicts the sun (日) shining through vegetation (艸). Based on the original meaning "sunset", now written as 暮. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
- 艹Pictographic componentgrass
- 日Pictographic componentsun; day
- 艸Pictographic componentgrass
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 旲
莊zhuāngvillage, hamlet; villa, manorDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 壯 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 壯Phonetic componentbig, large; robust, strong; the name of a tribe
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 壯
菌jūnmushroom; bacteria, germ, microbeDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “plant”; 囷 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 囷
萌méngbud, germ, sprout; to budDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 明 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 明Phonetic componentbright; clear
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 明
萎wēito wither, to wiltDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 委 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 委Phonetic componententrust; send
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 委
蒂dìroot cause; the stem of a fruit; the peduncle of a flowerDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 帝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蔕.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 帝Phonetic componentemperor
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 帝
董dǒngto direct, to supervise; surnameDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 重 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 重Phonetic componentheavy; repeat
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 重
葷hūnnon-vegetarian food; garlic; a foul smellDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 軍 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 軍Phonetic componentarmy; military
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 軍
葬zàngto bury, to interDetails+
Formation: Depicts a dead body being buried beneath the grass.
- 艹Pictographic componentgrass
- 死Semantic componentdie; death
- 艹Pictographic componentgrass
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 死 + 廾
蒼cāngdark blue; deep green; old, hoaryDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 倉 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 倉Phonetic componentgranary; barn; storehouse
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 倉
蒙méngto cover; to deceive; MongoliaDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “plant”; 冡 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 冡
蓄xùto store, to save, to hoard, to gatherDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “plant”; 畜 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 畜
蔼ǎilush; friendly, affableDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 谒 represents the sound. Simplified form of 藹.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 谒Phonetic componentto visit, to pay respects
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 谒
蔓mànvine, tendril, creeperDetails+
Compound formation: A long 曼 plant 艹 ; 曼 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 曼
蔑mièto disdain, to disregard, to slightDetails+
Dictionary relationship: Unicode indexes this character under 艸 “grass.” The modern meaning connection may be indirect or historical.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 罒 + 戍
蓬péngdisheveled, unkempt; a type of raspberryDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “plant”; 逢 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 逢
蔚wèithick, luxuriant; resplendent, ornamentalDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “grass”; 尉 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 尉
蔽bìto cover, to hide, to shelterDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 敝 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 敝Phonetic componentruined; shabby
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 敝
蕩dàngpond, pool; ripple, shake; to wash away, to wipe outDetails+
Compound formation: Hot water 湯 wiping out plant life 艹; 湯 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 湯
蕴yùnto collect, to gather, to store; profoundDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “plant”; 缊 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 缊
蕾lěiflower budDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 雷 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 雷Phonetic componentthunder
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 雷
薪xīnfuel, firewood; salaryDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 新 represents the sound. Originally written as 新.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 新Phonetic componentnew
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 新
藐miǎoto despise, to disdain; to disregard, to slightDetails+
Dictionary relationship: Unicode indexes this character under 艸 “grass.” The modern meaning connection may be indirect or historical.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 貌
薰xūna medicinal herb; to cauterizeDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “herb”; 熏 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 熏
藹ǎilush; friendly, affableDetails+
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 謁 represents the sound.
- 艹Semantic componentgrass
- 謁Phonetic componentto visit, to pay respects
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 謁
蘊yùnto collect, to gather, to store; profoundDetails+
Semantic–phonetic formation: 艹 contributes the broad semantic category “plant”; 縕 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 艹 grass
- Visual structure
- 艹 + 縕
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.