Definitions

cǎo (noun) grass; straw
cǎo (noun) draft; manuscript
cǎo (adjective) careless; rough

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "草" originated from representations of vegetation, and its current form is built from the grass radical "艹" over the component "早", a combination that likely reflects both meaning and sound. Originally referring specifically to grass or herbs, the semantic range of "草" expanded to include connotations of roughness and preliminary states, such as in the context of informal writing or drafts.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

地上有花。

Cǎo dì shàng yǒu huā.

There are flowers on the grass.

长得很好。

Cǎo zhǎng de hěn hǎo.

The grass grows well.

我们在地上跑步。

Wǒmen zài cǎo dì shàng pǎobù.

We run on the grass.

原的风光很美。

Cǎo yuán de fēngguāng hěn měi.

The scenery of the grassland is beautiful.

莓是一种水果。

Cǎo méi shì yī zhǒng shuǐguǒ.

Strawberry is a kind of fruit.

药可以治疗感冒。

Cǎo yào kěyǐ zhìliáo gǎnmào.

Herbal medicine can treat colds.

坪需要定期修剪。

Cǎo píng xūyào dìngqī xiūjiǎn.

The lawn needs regular trimming.

环境保护包括原保护。

Huánjìng bǎohù bāokuò cǎo yuán bǎohù.

Environmental protection includes grassland protection.