荪

蓀

sūn

孙 + 艹

Definitions

sūn fragrant grass

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 孙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蓀.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 孙

About

荪, the simplified form of 蓀, is a phono-semantic compound referring to a fragrant grass mentioned in classical Chinese literature. The top component, the grass radical 艹, marks it as a type of plant. The lower component, 孙 (simplified from 孫), serves purely to indicate the sound, ignoring its literal meaning of 'grandchild'. In ancient China, this plant was valued for its sweet scent and commonly used in poetry as a metaphor for virtue, nobility, and a gentleman's refined character.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

花园里种着荪草。

Huāyuán lǐ zhòng zhe sūn cǎo.

Fragrant plants are grown in the garden.

这种荪草很香。

Zhè zhǒng sūn cǎo hěn xiāng.

This kind of fragrant plant is very aromatic.

妈妈喜欢荪草的味道。

Māmā xǐhuān sūn cǎo de wèidào.

Mom likes the smell of fragrant plants.

我们在湖边发现了荪草。

Wǒmen zài hú biān fāxiàn le sūn cǎo.

We found fragrant plants by the lake.

荪草是一种药用植物。

Sūn cǎo shì yī zhǒng yàoyòng zhíwù.

Fragrant plant is a type of medicinal plant.

他专门研究荪草的习性。

Tā zhuānmén yánjiū sūn cǎo de xíxìng.

He specializes in studying the habits of fragrant plants.

这片湿地适合荪草生长。

Zhè piàn shīdì shìhé sūn cǎo shēngzhǎng.

This wetland is suitable for the growth of fragrant plants.

为了保护荪草，我们建立了自然保护区。

Wèile bǎohù sūn cǎo, wǒmen jiànlì le zìrán bǎohù qū.

In order to protect the fragrant plants, we established a natural reserve.

Related Characters

Component: 孙

Component: 艹

荪