苔

tāi, tái

台 + 艹

Frequency#3106

Definitions

tāi used in 舌苔[shé tāi]

tái moss; lichen; liverwort

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 台

About

The character "苔" is structured with the grass radical "艹" positioned above the component "台", which historically functioned as a phonetic element. Etymologically, this placement aligns the character with botanical concepts, specifically denoting moss or lichen. Its meaning has primarily focused on these types of non-flowering plants, while classical texts sometimes applied the term to analogous organic films found on damp surfaces like rocks or bark. The compositional elements of "艹" and "台" have defined the character's form throughout its documented use.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

地上有青苔。

Dì shàng yǒu qīng tái.

There is moss on the ground.

苔藓是绿色的。

Tái xiǎn shì lǜ sè de.

Moss is green.

石头上的苔很滑。

Shí tou shàng de tái hěn huá.

The moss on the stone is slippery.

花园里长了许多苔藓。

Huā yuán lǐ zhǎng le xǔ duō tái xiǎn.

A lot of moss has grown in the garden.

潮湿的墙角布满了青苔。

Cháo shī de qiáng jiǎo bù mǎn le qīng tái.

The damp corner of the wall is covered with moss.

苔类植物喜欢阴凉潮湿的地方。

Tái lèi zhí wù xǐ huān yīn liáng cháo shī de dì fāng.

Moss plants prefer cool and damp places.

研究人员正在研究苔藓的生态作用。

Yán jiū rén yuán zhèng zài yán jiū tái xiǎn de shēng tài zuò yòng.

Researchers are studying the ecological role of moss.

由于常年潮湿，这座古桥的台阶上生满了厚厚的青苔。

Yóu yú cháng nián cháo shī, zhè zuò gǔ qiáo de tái jiē shàng shēng mǎn le hòu hòu de qīng tái.

Due to perennial dampness, the steps of this ancient bridge are covered with thick moss.

Related Characters

Component: 台

Component: 艹

苔