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桂花 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
桂花guìhuāosmanthus flowersHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #74135, Very Hard
桂花guìhuāOsmanthus fragransHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #74135, Very Hard
guìhuā(gui4hua1)gui hua T4
  1. 1osmanthus flowers
  2. 2Osmanthus fragrans
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March 24, 2026

桂花guìhuā(gui4hua1)

桂花 (gui4 hua1) refers to osmanthus flowers, known for their fragrant aroma and delicate appearance. They are particularly celebrated in Chinese culture during the Mid-Autumn Festival, where they symbolize prosperity and happiness.

Strokes17Frequency#74135DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, 桂花 is often associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, where people enjoy mooncakes flavored with osmanthus and celebrate family reunions under the full moon.

Memory tip

Imagine a beautiful garden filled with golden flowers (桂) that emit a sweet smell, reminiscent of a warm autumn day (花). The sound 'gui' can be linked to 'gooey' to help you remember that these flowers are sweet and fragrant.

Meanings of 桂花

guìhuā(gui4hua1)
1osmanthus flowers
2Osmanthus fragrans
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About 桂花

桂花Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 桂花

Quick Contrast

桂花 (osmanthus) vs 玫瑰 (méiguī, rose) — choose 桂花 when referring specifically to the fragrant osmanthus flower, while 玫瑰 refers to roses, which have different cultural associations and scents.

Usage Notes

When using 桂花, it's common to pair it with words like '茶' (tea) for '桂花茶' (osmanthus tea). Be cautious with pronunciation, as a mispronounced tone can lead to misunderstanding; ensure you use the correct fourth tone for '桂' and the first tone for '花'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 桂花 is not a specific HSK vocabulary word, it connects with HSK Level 2-3 words related to nature and flora, such as '花' (flower). Students should focus on the tonal pronunciation and context of use during festivals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 桂花 with other types of flowers like '玫瑰' (méi guī, rose). Always remember that 桂花 refers specifically to osmanthus. Additionally, some may mistakenly pronounce 桂花 as 'gui3 hua1' instead of 'gui4 hua1'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 桂花

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Component characters

桂guìcassia, cinnamon
10 strokes木
View full entry
花huāflower
HSK 27 strokes艹
View full entry

How to say osmanthus flowers in Chinese

“osmanthus flowers” in Chinese is桂花guìhuā

桂花 (gui4 hua1) refers to osmanthus flowers, known for their fragrant aroma and delicate appearance. They are particularly celebrated in Chinese culture during the Mid-Autumn Festival, where they symbolize prosperity and happiness.

When to use 桂花

When using 桂花, it's common to pair it with words like '茶' (tea) for '桂花茶' (osmanthus tea). Be cautious with pronunciation, as a mispronounced tone can lead to misunderstanding; ensure you use the correct fourth tone for '桂' and the first tone for '花'.

桂花 or something close to it

桂花 (osmanthus) vs 玫瑰 (méiguī, rose) — choose 桂花 when referring specifically to the fragrant osmanthus flower, while 玫瑰 refers to roses, which have different cultural associations and scents.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 桂花 with other types of flowers like '玫瑰' (méi guī, rose). Always remember that 桂花 refers specifically to osmanthus. Additionally, some may mistakenly pronounce 桂花 as 'gui3 hua1' instead of 'gui4 hua1'.

Write 桂花

桂
花

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Frequently asked questions about 桂花

桂花 has a sweet and fragrant aroma, often compared to a mix of honey and apricot.

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