Definitions

lái (noun) goosefoot; pigweed (Chenopodium album)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "莱" originates from its traditional form "萊", which is structured with the grass radical "艹" indicating vegetation and the component "來" serving as a phonetic element. Initially denoting a specific weed known as goosefoot or pigweed, the term later broadened to refer to overgrown or uncultivated land, as seen in classical texts describing fallow fields or wild grasslands. While its core botanical association persisted, the character became incorporated into compound terms and place names, such as "蓬莱", a legendary island from Chinese mythology. The simplified form "莱" retains the same structural composition, with "来" as the phonetic component, aligning with its etymological origins.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal 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

这是著名的茵河。

Zhè shì zhùmíng de Láiyīn Hé.

This is the famous Rhine River.

昂是我的好朋友。

Lái'áng shì wǒ de hǎo péngyou.

Leon is my good friend.

我们去蓬旅游吧。

Wǒmen qù Pénglái lǚyóu ba.

Let's travel to Penglai.

卡相机非常昂贵。

Láikǎ xiàngjī fēicháng ángguì.

Leica cameras are very expensive.

芜的经济发展很快。

Láiwú de jīngjì fāzhǎn hěn kuài.

The economic development of Laiwu is very fast.

茵河是欧洲的重要河流。

Láiyīn Hé shì Ōuzhōu de zhòngyào héliú.

The Rhine River is an important river in Europe.

我听说蓬是个美丽的地方。

Wǒ tīngshuō Pénglái shì gè měilì de dìfāng.

I heard that Penglai is a beautiful place.

昂纳多主演了许多精彩电影。

Lái'ángnàduō zhǔyǎn le xǔduō jīngcǎi diànyǐng.

Leonardo starred in many wonderful movies.