Definitions

lán (noun) orchid
lán (noun) fragrant plant; aromatic herb

Etymology

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

About

The character "兰" originates from the traditional form "蘭", which is composed of the grass radical (艹) above the phonetic component "闌", initially referring specifically to orchids or aromatic plants such as Eupatorium. Over centuries, its application broadened to encompass related flora like magnolia in the term "木兰", and it became employed in personal and place names, often carrying connotations of elegance due to its botanical associations. The simplified form "兰" retains the grass radical while condensing the phonetic element, yet the character's fundamental link to plants of distinctive beauty continues in modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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)
Seal etymology image
Seal Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一朵花。

Zhè shì yī duǒ lán huā.

This is an orchid flower.

我养的花很漂亮。

Wǒ yǎng de lán huā hěn piàoliang.

The orchid I grow is very beautiful.

她买了一盆白玉

Tā mǎi le yī pén báiyùlán.

She bought a pot of magnolia flower.

妈妈喜欢花的清香。

Māma xǐhuan lán huā de qīngxiāng.

Mom likes the delicate fragrance of orchids.

州是中国的一个城市。

Lánzhōu shì Zhōngguó de yī gè chéngshì.

Lanzhou is a city in China.

山上的草开花了。

Shān shàng de láncǎo kāi huā le.

The orchid grass on the mountain has bloomed.

他常买香型的茶叶。

Tā cháng mǎi lán xiāng xíng de cháyè.

He often buys tea with an orchid scent.

她气质如,温文尔雅。

Tā qìzhì rú lán, wēnwéněryǎ.

Her temperament resembles an orchid, gentle and refined.