苔

tāi, tái

台 + 艹

Definitions

tāi used in 舌苔[shé tāi]

tái moss; lichen; liverwort

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 台

About

苔 is a phono-semantic compound: 艹 (grass) gives the meaning of vegetation, and 台 indicates the sound. It refers to moss, lichen, and similar small non-vascular plants that flourish in damp, shaded, humid environments. These plants often form dense green coverings on rocks, old brick walls, and damp earth, so the character is frequently used in literature to evoke a sense of ancient abandonment, natural stillness, or the slow passage of time in secluded settings.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

地上有青苔。

Dì shàng yǒu qīng tái.

There is moss on the ground.

苔藓是绿色的。

Tái xiǎn shì lǜ sè de.

Moss is green.

石头上的苔很滑。

Shí tou shàng de tái hěn huá.

The moss on the stone is slippery.

花园里长了许多苔藓。

Huā yuán lǐ zhǎng le xǔ duō tái xiǎn.

A lot of moss has grown in the garden.

潮湿的墙角布满了青苔。

Cháo shī de qiáng jiǎo bù mǎn le qīng tái.

The damp corner of the wall is covered with moss.

苔类植物喜欢阴凉潮湿的地方。

Tái lèi zhí wù xǐ huān yīn liáng cháo shī de dì fāng.

Moss plants prefer cool and damp places.

研究人员正在研究苔藓的生态作用。

Yán jiū rén yuán zhèng zài yán jiū tái xiǎn de shēng tài zuò yòng.

Researchers are studying the ecological role of moss.

由于常年潮湿，这座古桥的台阶上生满了厚厚的青苔。

Yóu yú cháng nián cháo shī, zhè zuò gǔ qiáo de tái jiē shàng shēng mǎn le hòu hòu de qīng tái.

Due to perennial dampness, the steps of this ancient bridge are covered with thick moss.

Related Characters

Component: 台

Component: 艹

苔