茸

róng

耳 + 艹

Definitions

róng (bound form) (of newly sprouted grass) soft and fine; downy

Etymology

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

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 耳

About

茸 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 艹 (cǎo, "grass") provides the meaning, while 耳 (ěr, "ear") gives the sound. It originally denoted lush, thick, and soft plant growth, visually associating the ear-shaped phonetic component with tender vegetation. The character's primary meaning then extended to fine, downy animal hair or the fuzzy texture of new sprouts, and most notably it refers to the velvet covering young deer antlers, a substance highly prized in traditional Chinese medicine.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

小猫有柔软的茸毛。

Xiǎo māo yǒu róuruǎn de róng máo.

The kitten has soft fine fur.

这只玩具熊毛茸茸的。

Zhè zhī wánjù xióng máo róng róng de.

This teddy bear is fluffy.

春天草地绿茸茸的。

Chūntiān cǎodì lǜ róng róng de.

In spring, the grass is lush and green.

鹿茸是一种珍贵的中药材。

Lù róng shì yī zhǒng zhēnguì de zhōngyào cái.

Deer antler velvet is a precious traditional Chinese medicine.

茸茸的细雨落在草地上。

Róng róng de xì yǔ luò zài cǎodì shàng.

The fine drizzle falls on the grass.

他用手轻轻抚摸着小羊的茸毛。

Tā yòng shǒu qīngqīng fǔmō zhe xiǎo yáng de róng máo.

He gently strokes the lamb's fine fur with his hand.

森林里覆盖着一层厚厚的绿茸茸的苔藓。

Sēnlín lǐ fùgài zhe yī céng hòuhòu de lǜ róng róng de tái xiǎn.

The forest is covered with a thick layer of lush green moss.

鹿茸的采集需要非常小心以避免伤害鹿只。

Lù róng de cǎijí xūyào fēicháng xiǎoxīn yǐ bìmiǎn shānghài lù zhī.

The harvesting of deer antler velvet requires great care to avoid harming the deer.

Related Characters

Component: 耳

Component: 艹

茸