About
The character "苔" is a phono-semantic compound incorporating the grass radical "艹" to signify its botanical nature and the component "台" which primarily serves as a phonetic indicator for its pronunciation. Etymologically, this construction has always pointed to moss or lichen, with the grass radical firmly anchoring it within the category of small, damp-growing plants. While its core meaning has remained stable, literary and colloquial usage has at times broadened its application to include analogous growths such as mold or the green patina on wet surfaces, thereby enriching its descriptive utility without departing from its fundamental vegetative association. The character's structure, a straightforward combination of meaning and sound elements, has endured without substantive modification, ensuring a continuous and recognizable link to its original semantic domain.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
地上有青苔。
苔藓是绿色的。
石头上的苔很滑。
花园里长了许多苔藓。
潮湿的墙角布满了青苔。
苔类植物喜欢阴凉潮湿的地方。
研究人员正在研究苔藓的生态作用。
由于常年潮湿，这座古桥的台阶上生满了厚厚的青苔。