weed, goosefoot; fallow field; used in transliterations
ns, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #1886, Hard
莱
lái
name of weed plant (fat hen, goosefoot, pigweed etc)
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #1886, Hard
莱
lái
Chenopodium album
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #1886, Hard
lái(lai2) T2
1weed, goosefoot; fallow field; used in transliterations
2name of weed plant (fat hen, goosefoot, pigweed etc)
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March 24, 2026
莱(萊)lái(lai2)
The character '莱' (lái) primarily refers to a type of weed known as goosefoot or fat hen, which is often found in fallow fields. It is also used in transliterations of foreign words and names. In agricultural contexts, it may symbolize fields that are uncultivated or overgrown with weeds.
Strokes10Radical艹Frequency#1886DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
'莱' is linked to traditional Chinese agriculture where weeds were often viewed as both a nuisance and a resource. In some regions, certain weeds like goosefoot are foraged for food, demonstrating the utilitarian aspect of what is often considered undesirable.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'goose' (sounds like 'lái') that is 'lying' down in a field overgrown with weeds. The character '莱' has a radical that resembles plants, which can help you visualize its connection to nature and growth.
Meanings of 莱
lái(lai2)
1weed, goosefoot; fallow field; used in transliterations
2name of weed plant (fat hen, goosefoot, pigweed etc)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 莱
莱Simplified
萊Traditional
10Strokes
艹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 莱
Podcast: 莱
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AI Study Notes for 莱
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'goose' (sounds like 'lái') that is 'lying' down in a field overgrown with weeds. The character '莱' has a radical that resembles plants, which can help you visualize its connection to nature and growth.
Usage Notes
This character is often used in academic or scientific contexts related to botany. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; context is crucial. Common phrases include '莱草' (lái cǎo) for goosefoot and '野莱' (yě lái) for wild vegetables.
HSK Study Tips
Although '莱' is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it relates to HSK Level 3 words like '田' (tián, field) and '草' (cǎo, grass). Focus on understanding its usage in specific contexts, especially in botany, to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
'莱' is linked to traditional Chinese agriculture where weeds were often viewed as both a nuisance and a resource. In some regions, certain weeds like goosefoot are foraged for food, demonstrating the utilitarian aspect of what is often considered undesirable.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '莱' with '来' (lái, to come) due to similar pronunciation. Remember, '莱' relates to plants while '来' refers to movement or arrival.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 莱
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Grammar Patterns of 莱
莱 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这里是吉姆·菲什在贝尔格____德发来的关于事件进展的报道。
With a report on these developments, here's Jim Fish in Belgrade.
Example Sentences for 莱 (10)
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1
这里是吉姆·菲什在贝尔格莱德发来的关于事件进展的报道。
zhè lǐ shì jí mǔ· · fēi shí zài bèi ěr gé lái dé fā lái de guān yú shì jiàn jìn zhǎn de bào。
With a report on these developments, here's Jim Fish in Belgrade.
2
数年前，艾莱的农场就实现了机械化。
shù nián qián， ， ài lái de nóng cháng jiù shí xiàn le jī xiè。
Mechanization happened years ago on the farms of Islay.
3
好莱坞的大牌影星们出席了那个舞会。
hǎo lái wù de dà pái yǐng xīng mén chū xí le nà gè wǔ huì。
The Ball was attended by the cream of Hollywood society.
He was just starting to become known on the cabaret circuit.
Cultural Notes for 莱
🏮Cultural insight
'莱' is linked to traditional Chinese agriculture where weeds were often viewed as both a nuisance and a resource. In some regions, certain weeds like goosefoot are foraged for food, demonstrating the utilitarian aspect of what is often considered undesirable.
Word Family of 莱
Words Containing This Character15
莱láiChenopodium album萊
好莱坞Hollywood好萊塢
布莱尔Blair (name)布萊爾
克莱尔Claire (name)克萊爾
布莱恩Brian (name)布萊恩
蓬莱by extension, fairyland蓬萊
欧莱雅L'Oréal (French cosmetics company)歐萊雅
克莱斯勒Chrysler克萊斯勒
劳斯莱斯Rolls-Royce勞斯萊斯
贝尔格莱德Belgrade, capital of Serbia貝爾格萊德
克莱Clay (name)克萊
文莱Brunei Darussalam, independent sultanate in northwest Borneo文萊
阿德莱德Adelaide, capital of South Australia阿德萊德
莱卡Leica camera萊卡
莱西Laixi county level city in Qingdao 青島|青岛, Shandong萊西
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 莱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 莱
'莱' can also refer to fallow fields and is used in transliterations for certain foreign terms.
You might say '这个田里长了很多莱' (Zhège tián lǐ zhǎngle hěnduō lái), meaning 'This field has grown a lot of weeds.'
'莱' is not commonly used in casual conversation but may appear in academic discussions about plants or agriculture.
