About
萱 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic radical 艹 (cǎo, grass/plant) with the phonetic component 宣 (xuān), which indicates its pronunciation. It specifically denotes the daylily (Hemerocallis fulva), a perennial with vibrant orange or yellow flowers. In classical Chinese literature, this plant was believed to dispel sorrow, earning it the poetic name 忘忧草 (forget-sorrow plant). Consequently, the character often appears in poetic contexts referencing mothers and the wish to ease a parent’s worries, solidifying its dual identity as both a botanical term and a literary symbol of maternal care.