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March 24, 2026
苔tāi(tai1)
The character 苔 (tāi) refers to moss or lichen, indicating a type of small, non-flowering plant that often grows in damp or shady environments. In a broader context, it can also refer to the coating that can appear on the tongue, often related to health. This word is commonly used in botanical discussions or health-related conversations.
Strokes8Radical艹Frequency#6715DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the appearance of the tongue is believed to reflect one’s health, and the term 苔 is used to describe certain health conditions based on the tongue's coating. This highlights the significance of tongue diagnosis in Chinese health practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a soft, green blanket of moss covering the ground in a forest. The character 苔 looks like a tiny plant sprouting from the ground (the radical 艹 on top represents vegetation), and the pronunciation 'tāi' can be remembered by thinking of 'tide' as the water that nourishes these plants.
Meanings of 苔
tāi(tai1)
primary
1moss, lichen
2coating (of tongue)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 苔
苔Simplified
8Strokes
艹Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 苔
Podcast: 苔
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AI Study Notes for 苔
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 苔 with similar-sounding words. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about nature or health. A common collocation is 苔藓 (tāixiǎn), which means 'moss'. Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
While 苔 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to nature and health, such as 绿 (green) and 健康 (health). Students should practice recognizing its radicals and their meanings to strengthen their vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 苔 as 'tái', confusing it with other characters. Remember, the correct tone is 'tāi' with a high tone, not rising.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 苔
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Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half台 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 苔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 苔?
Decomposition of 苔
IDS Structure⿱艹台
苔Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
台Tai2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 苔?
How to say moss, lichen in Chinese
“moss, lichen” in Chinese is苔tāi
The character 苔 (tāi) refers to moss or lichen, indicating a type of small, non-flowering plant that often grows in damp or shady environments. In a broader context, it can also refer to the coating that can appear on the tongue, often related to health. This word is commonly used in botanical discussions or health-related conversations.
When to use 苔
Learners often confuse 苔 with similar-sounding words. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about nature or health. A common collocation is 苔藓 (tāixiǎn), which means 'moss'. Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation to avoid confusion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 苔 as 'tái', confusing it with other characters. Remember, the correct tone is 'tāi' with a high tone, not rising.
Write 苔
苔
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Practice writing 苔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 苔
苔 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
