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萱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xuānday-lily, Hemerocallis fulvan, 12 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
xuānorange day-lily (Hemerocallis flava)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
xuān(xuan1) T1
  1. 1day-lily, Hemerocallis fulva
  2. 2orange day-lily (Hemerocallis flava)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
xuān(xuan1)

The character 萱 (xuān) refers to the day-lily, a flowering plant known for its vibrant orange blooms. In Chinese culture, the day-lily symbolizes remembrance and is often associated with the idea of nurturing and care, making it a popular motif in poetry and art.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the day-lily is often used in herbal medicine and is valued for its nutritional properties. It is commonly featured in dishes and is celebrated during festivals for its beauty and symbolism of remembrance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a vibrant orange day-lily (the flower) growing in a sunny garden. The character 萱 resembles a plant with leaves (the two horizontal strokes) and blooms (the top part), while 'xuān' sounds like 'swan', evoking a graceful flower swaying in the breeze like a swan gliding on water.

Meanings of 萱

xuān(xuan1)
1day-lily, Hemerocallis fulva
2orange day-lily (Hemerocallis flava)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 萱

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 萱

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 萱

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a vibrant orange day-lily (the flower) growing in a sunny garden. The character 萱 resembles a plant with leaves (the two horizontal strokes) and blooms (the top part), while 'xuān' sounds like 'swan', evoking a graceful flower swaying in the breeze like a swan gliding on water.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 萱 with similar characters. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in literature and poetry. Pay attention to its pronunciation; it should not be mixed up with other characters that have similar sounds but different tones.

HSK Study Tips

Although 萱 is not part of the HSK curriculum, understanding it enriches vocabulary related to nature and flowers, which can enhance descriptive language skills. Students should focus on the character's radicals and its cultural significance to better remember it.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the day-lily is often used in herbal medicine and is valued for its nutritional properties. It is commonly featured in dishes and is celebrated during festivals for its beauty and symbolism of remembrance.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 萱 with the character 轩 (xuān), which means 'pavilion' or 'high'. Ensure you remember that 萱 relates to the day-lily and has a floral connotation, while 轩 does not.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 萱

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Etymology of 萱

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

plant

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 萱?

Decomposition of 萱

IDS Structure⿱艹宣
Full Character
=
cao3
top
Xuan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 萱?

Write 萱

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 萱

萱 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.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

风和璇阁恒春树, 日暖____庭长乐花.

Wind Jiaxuan and Hengchun trees, warm day to spend Changle Xuan court.

Example Sentences for 萱 (1)

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1
风和璇阁恒春树, 日暖萱庭长乐花.

fēng hé xuán gé héng chūn shù, , rì nuǎn xuān tíng cháng lè.

Wind Jiaxuan and Hengchun trees, warm day to spend Changle Xuan court.

Cultural Notes for 萱

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, the day-lily is often used in herbal medicine and is valued for its nutritional properties. It is commonly featured in dishes and is celebrated during festivals for its beauty and symbolism of remembrance.

Word Family of 萱

Words Containing This Character2
xuānorange day-lily (Hemerocallis flava)
萱草daylily
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 萱 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 萱

The day-lily symbolizes remembrance and is often associated with nurturing, making it a popular symbol in poetry.