兰 lán — orchid · English

兰

lán

orchid

At a glance · 兰

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「兰」繁体「蘭」从艸阑声，小篆从艸闌声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「兰」本指兰草（香草），后亦指兰花。

Structure

从艸、阑(lán)声，形声字，艸表植物义类，阑表音；简作兰。

At a glance

Pinyinlán

Radical丷

Strokes5

UnicodeU+5170

Character type形声

Theme植物

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English orchid orchid; elegant, graceful

Français orchidée Orchidée. «似兰斯馨» : emblème de la vertu parfumée.

Español orquídea Orquídea. «似兰斯馨»: emblema de la virtud fragante.

العربية أوركيد أوركيد (سحلبية). «似兰斯馨»: رمز الفضيلة العطرة.

Русский орхидея Орхидея. «似兰斯馨»: символ благоуханной добродетели.

Common words

兰花lán huāorchid
兰lánorchid

◉ Listen