About
The character 苌, with its traditional form 萇, originates from early Chinese literature where it specifically denoted the plant known as 萇楚. Its structure combines the grass radical 艹 with the component 長 (simplified to 长), which primarily serves a phonetic function while indirectly suggesting the plant's trailing growth. Over time, the character's meaning expanded from this particular vine to broader botanical references and was also adopted for use as a surname.
Etymology Hide
