weed, goosefoot; fallow field; used in transliterations
ns, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #1886, Medium
莱
lái
name of weed plant (fat hen, goosefoot, pigweed etc)
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #1886, Medium
莱
lái
Chenopodium album
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #1886, Medium
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#1886DifficultyMedium
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
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.
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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Drill the tone of 莱 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 来 represents the sound. Simplified form of 萊.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half来 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaygrass
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 莱? 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 莱?
Decomposition of 莱
IDS Structure⿱艹来
莱Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
来lai2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 莱?
How to say weed, goosefoot; fallow field; used in transliterations in Chinese
“weed, goosefoot; fallow field; used in transliterations” in Chinese is莱lái
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.
When to use 莱
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 莱
莱
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Practice writing 莱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
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.
