藓

蘚

xiǎn

艹 + 鲜

Definitions

xiǎn moss; lichen; moss on damp walls; used erroneously for 蘇|苏

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 鲜 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蘚.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 鲜

About

藓 (the simplified form of 蘚) is a phono-semantic compound: the grass radical 艹 on top indicates a plant, and 鲜 (xiān) below provides the sound. It denotes moss and lichen, small non-vascular plants that typically grow in dense green clumps or mats on damp rocks, tree trunks, and forest floors. The phonetic 鲜 means 'fresh' or 'rare,' likely alluding to the vivid, moist freshness of these plants. Historically, the character reflects the observation of such low-growing vegetation in humid, shaded ecosystems, where it often occupies niches that are too harsh for many higher plants.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

苔藓生长在石头上。

Tái xiǎn shēngzhǎng zài shítou shàng.

Moss grows on stones.

潮湿的地方有苔藓。

Cháoshī de dìfāng yǒu tái xiǎn.

There is moss in damp places.

花园里的苔藓很柔软。

Huāyuán lǐ de tái xiǎn hěn róuruǎn.

The moss in the garden is very soft.

我们小心地走过苔藓地面。

Wǒmen xiǎoxīn de zǒu guò tái xiǎn dìmiàn.

We carefully walked across the mossy ground.

苔藓类植物需要水分才能生存。

Tái xiǎn lèi zhíwù xūyào shuǐfèn cái néng shēngcún.

Moss plants need moisture to survive.

科学家研究苔藓以了解环境变化。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū tái xiǎn yǐ liǎojiě huánjìng biànhuà.

Scientists study moss to understand environmental changes.

在森林深处苔藓覆盖了古老的树干。

Zài sēnlín shēnchù tái xiǎn fùgài le gǔlǎo de shùgàn.

In the deep forest, moss covers the ancient tree trunks.

由于气候湿润这座山的岩石上布满了各种藓类植物。

Yóuyú qìhòu shīrùn zhè zuò shān de yánshí shàng bùmǎn le gèzhǒng xiǎn lèi zhíwù.

Due to the humid climate, the rocks of this mountain are covered with various types of moss plants.

Related Characters

Component: 艹

Component: 鲜

藓