Chinese Character: 花
1. Character Basics
Radical: 艹/艸 (cǎo) - Grass radical
Stroke Count: 7 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Huā (First tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Flower; blossom; bloom
Extended Meanings:
- Spend (money); cost
- Flower-like pattern or shape
- Fireworks
- Decorative; fancy
Additional Notes: Can also be used as a measure word for certain flower-like objects or patterns.
4. Common Words
- 花朵 (huā duǒ) - Flower; blossom
这朵花真美。(This flower is so beautiful.) - 花园 (huā yuán) - Garden
我们去花园散步吧。(Let's go for a walk in the garden.) - 花钱 (huā qián) - Spend money
不要乱花钱。(Don't waste money.) - 花生 (huā shēng) - Peanut
我喜欢吃花生。(I like to eat peanuts.) - 花色 (huā sè) - Flower color; pattern
这种花色很流行。(This pattern is very popular.)
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Noun; verb (when meaning "to spend"); adjective; measure word
Common Usage:
- As a noun: referring to flowers and flower-like things
- As a verb: meaning "to spend" (money, time, etc.)
- As an adjective: describing something as flowery or fancy
- As a measure word: for certain objects with flower-like shapes
Common Structures:
- 花 + 名词: 花园 (garden), 花生 (peanut)
- 花 + 动词: 花开 (flowers bloom), 花落 (flowers fall)
- 花 + 钱/时间: 花钱 (spend money), 花时间 (spend time)
Usage Notes: When used as a verb meaning "to spend", it always takes an object (usually money or time).
6. Cultural Background
Flower Symbolism: In Chinese culture, different flowers have different symbolic meanings. For example, peonies symbolize wealth and honor, plum blossoms represent resilience, and lotus flowers symbolize purity.
Art & Literature: Flowers have been a common theme in Chinese poetry, painting, and other art forms for thousands of years.
Traditional Medicine: Many flowers are used in traditional Chinese medicine for their healing properties.
Customs & Festivals: Flowers play important roles in various festivals and customs, such as the Spring Festival, weddings, and funerals.
7. Example Sentence
1. 春天来了，公园里的花都开了。
(Spring has come, and all the flowers in the park have bloomed.)
2. 我每天早上都要给花浇水。
(I water the flowers every morning.)
3. 买这本书花了我二十块钱。
(This book cost me twenty yuan.)
8. Memory Tips
- Structure Memory: The character is composed of 艹 (grass radical) at the top and 化 (change/transform) at the bottom, suggesting flowers as things that grow from grass and change with the seasons.
- Sound Association: The pronunciation "huā" rhymes with "flower" in English, which can help with memorization.
- Visual Memory: Imagine a beautiful flower with the grass radical (艹) as the leaves and stem, and 化 as the blossom.
- Vocabulary Grouping: Group words related to flowers (花朵, 花园, 花色) and words related to spending (花钱, 花时间) to remember different uses of the character.
- Cultural Connection: Associate the character with traditional Chinese flower symbolism to deepen your understanding and memory.