Meanings of 艸
By ear
Play it, then pick what 艸 means.
About 艸
Podcast: 艸
Podcast: 艸
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 艸
Learners often confuse this character with similar ones like 菜 (cài, vegetable) or 草 (cǎo, grass). It's typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tonal pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.
Although not an HSK level word, 艸 relates closely to HSK 1 vocabulary about nature and basic nouns. Focus on how it combines with other characters, like in 草地 (cǎodì, grassland) or 草原 (cǎoyuán, prairie).
Learners often confuse 艸 with characters that look similar but have different meanings, such as 衣 (yī, clothing). It's essential to distinguish between them by remembering that 艸 specifically refers to grass.
Pronunciation of 艸
Drill the tone of 艸, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 艸 to you
Let me explain 艸 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 艸 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 艸?
Learning Lab
Knowing 艸 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 艸
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 早 represents the sound.
Grass sprouting
Origin
What kind of character is 艸?
Decomposition of 艸
Parts
Which of these is part of 艸?
How to say grass in Chinese
“grass” in Chinese is艸
The character 艸 (cǎo) means 'grass' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to represent not just grass itself, but also related concepts such as plants, nature, and the idea of something being green or lush. You'll often encounter it in agricultural contexts or when discussing natural landscapes.
When to use 艸
Learners often confuse this character with similar ones like 菜 (cài, vegetable) or 草 (cǎo, grass). It's typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tonal pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 艸 with characters that look similar but have different meanings, such as 衣 (yī, clothing). It's essential to distinguish between them by remembering that 艸 specifically refers to grass.
Write 艸
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 艸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 艸?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 艸
Characters with 艸
What does 草 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 艸
艸 is a character component that means grass, while 草 is the complete character for grass used in everyday language.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 艸?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.