pīnyīn 
pin1yin1 
ㄓㄨㄧㄣ 
 
simplified 
traditional 
 
草 
艸 
cao3 
 
 
variant of 草 
草 
草 
cao3 
 
 
grass; straw; manuscript; draft (of a document); careless; rough 
草 
草 
cao4 
 
 
variant of 肏 
 
strokes 
9 
 
radical 
 
 
strokes after radical 
6 
 
矮脚白花蛇利草 
矮腳白花蛇利草 
ai3 jiao3 bai2 hua1 she2 li4 cao3 
 
 
see 白花蛇舌草 
艾草 
艾草 
ai4 cao3 
 
 
Asian mugwort or wormwood (genus Artemesia) 
巴里坤草原 
巴里坤草原 
ba1 li3 kun1 cao3 yuan2 
 
 
Barkol grasslands near Hami in Xinjiang 
巴音布克草原 
巴音布克草原 
ba1 yin1 bu4 ke4 cao3 yuan2 
 
 
Bayanbulak grasslands in Uldus basin of Tianshan mountains 
白花蛇舌草 
白花蛇舌草 
bai2 hua1 she2 she2 cao3 
 
 
Hedyotis diffusa 
白腰草鹬 
白腰草鷸 
bai2 yao1 cao3 yu4 
 
 
(bird species of China) green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 
百草 
百草 
bai3 cao3 
 
 
all kinds of grass; all kinds of flora 
百草枯 
百草枯 
bai3 cao3 ku1 
 
 
paraquat 
班草 
班草 
ban1 cao3 
 
 
the most handsome boy in the class 
宝盖草 
寶蓋草 
bao3 gai4 cao3 
 
 
henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) 
本草 
本草 
ben3 cao3 
 
 
a book on Chinese (herbal) medicine; Chinese materia medica 
本草纲目 
本草綱目 
ben3 cao3 gang1 mu4 
 
 
Compendium of Medical Herbs 1596, compiled by Li Shizhen 李時珍|李时珍 
碧草如茵 
碧草如茵 
bi4 cao3 ru2 yin1 
 
 
green grass like cushion (idiom); green meadow so inviting to sleep on 
兵马未动,粮草先行 
兵馬未動,糧草先行 
bing1 ma3 wei4 dong4 - liang2 cao3 xian1 xing2 
 
 
before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers; an army marches on its stomach 
草案 
草案 
cao3 an4 
 
 
draft (legislation, proposal etc) 
草包 
草包 
cao3 bao1 
 
 
idiot; straw bag 
草本 
草本 
cao3 ben3 
 
 
grass; herb 
草本植物 
草本植物 
cao3 ben3 zhi2 wu4 
 
 
herbaceous plant 
草标 
草標 
cao3 biao1 
 
 
(old) sign made of woven weeds, placed on an object, an animal or a person, indicating that it is for sale. 
草草 
草草 
cao3 cao3 
 
 
carelessly; hastily 
草草了事 
草草了事 
cao3 cao3 liao3 shi4 
 
 
to rush through the work; to get through a thing carelessly 
草草收兵 
草草收兵 
cao3 cao3 shou1 bing1 
 
 
to work vaguely then retreat (idiom); sloppy and half-hearted; half-baked 
草草收场 
草草收場 
cao3 cao3 shou1 chang3 
 
 
to rush to conclude a matter; to end up abruptly 
草场 
草場 
cao3 chang3 
 
 
pastureland 
草船借箭 
草船借箭 
cao3 chuan2 jie4 jian4 
 
 
lit. using straw boats to borrow arrows (idiom, from 三國演義|三国演义); fig. to use others' manpower and resources for one's own ends 
草丛 
草叢 
cao3 cong2 
 
 
underbrush 
草大青 
草大青 
cao3 da4 qing1 
 
 
Isatis indigotica (indigo woad plant) 
草地 
草地 
cao3 di4 
 
 
lawn; meadow; sod; turf 
草地鹨 
草地鷚 
cao3 di4 liu4 
 
 
(bird species of China) meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) 
草甸 
草甸 
cao3 dian4 
 
 
meadow 
草垫 
草墊 
cao3 dian4 
 
 
straw mattress 
草垫子 
草墊子 
cao3 dian4 zi5 
 
 
straw mattress; palliasse 
草秆 
草稈 
cao3 gan3 
 
 
straw; grain stalks 
草稿 
草稿 
cao3 gao3 
 
 
draft; outline; sketch 
草根 
草根 
cao3 gen1 
 
 
grassroots 
草根网民 
草根網民 
cao3 gen1 wang3 min2 
 
 
grassroots netizens 
草菇 
草菇 
cao3 gu1 
 
 
straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea); paddy straw mushroom 
草果 
草果 
cao3 guo3 
 
 
black cardamom; (dialect) strawberry 
草海 
草海 
cao3 hai3 
 
 
Caohai Lake, Guizhou 
草鸡 
草雞 
cao3 ji1 
 
 
free-range chicken; (dialect) hen; cowardly 
草菅人命 
草菅人命 
cao3 jian1 ren2 ming4 
 
 
human life as grass (idiom); to kill people like scything grass; a politician acting with total disregard for the life of his countrymen 
草荐 
草薦 
cao3 jian4 
 
 
straw mattress; palliasse 
草寇 
草寇 
cao3 kou4 
 
 
bandits 
草料 
草料 
cao3 liao4 
 
 
fodder 
草鹭 
草鷺 
cao3 lu4 
 
 
(bird species of China) purple heron (Ardea purpurea) 
草绿篱莺 
草綠籬鶯 
cao3 lv4 li2 ying1 
 
 
(bird species of China) eastern olivaceous warbler (Iduna pallida) 
草码 
草碼 
cao3 ma3 
 
 
the ten numerals 〡,〢,〣,〤,〥,〦,〧,〨,〩,十 nowadays mainly used in traditional trades such as Chinese medicine 
草满囹圄 
草滿囹圄 
cao3 man3 ling2 yu3 
 
 
lit. jails overgrown with grass (idiom); fig. peaceful society 
草莽 
草莽 
cao3 mang3 
 
 
a rank growth of grass; uncultivated land; wilderness 
草帽 
草帽 
cao3 mao4 
 
 
straw hat 
草莓 
草莓 
cao3 mei2 
 
 
strawberry; (Taiwan) hickey; love bite 
草莓族 
草莓族 
cao3 mei2 zu2 
 
 
pampered young people unaccustomed to hardship (Tw) 
草蜢 
草蜢 
cao3 meng3 
 
 
grasshopper 
草民 
草民 
cao3 min2 
 
 
the grass roots; the hoi polloi 
草木 
草木 
cao3 mu4 
 
 
vegetation; plants 
草木灰 
草木灰 
cao3 mu4 hui1 
 
 
plant ash 
草木皆兵 
草木皆兵 
cao3 mu4 jie1 bing1 
 
 
lit. every tree or bush an enemy soldier (idiom); fig. to panic and treat everyone as an enemy; to feel beleaguered 
草木鸟兽 
草木鳥獸 
cao3 mu4 niao3 shou4 
 
 
flora and fauna 
草泥马 
草泥馬 
cao3 ni2 ma3 
 
 
grass mud horse; used as a substitute for 肏你媽|肏你妈, to mock or avoid censorship on the Internet 
草拟 
草擬 
cao3 ni3 
 
 
first draft; to draw up (a first version) 
草耙 
草耙 
cao3 pa2 
 
 
a rake 
草爬子 
草爬子 
cao3 pa2 zi5 
 
 
tick (zoology) 
草皮 
草皮 
cao3 pi2 
 
 
turf; sward; sod 
草坪 
草坪 
cao3 ping2 
 
 
lawn 
草坪机 
草坪機 
cao3 ping2 ji1 
 
 
lawn mower 
草蜻蛉 
草蜻蛉 
cao3 qing1 ling2 
 
 
green lacewing 
草山 
草山 
cao3 shan1 
 
 
Grassy Hill (hill in Hong Kong) 
草珊瑚 
草珊瑚 
cao3 shan1 hu2 
 
 
Sarcandra glabra (botany) 
草石蚕 
草石蠶 
cao3 shi2 can2 
 
 
Chinese artichoke; Stachys sieboldii 
草食动物 
草食動物 
cao3 shi2 dong4 wu4 
 
 
herbivore; herbivorous animal 
草书 
草書 
cao3 shu1 
 
 
grass script; cursive script (Chinese calligraphic style) 
草率 
草率 
cao3 shuai4 
 
 
careless; negligent; sloppy; not serious 
草率收兵 
草率收兵 
cao3 shuai4 shou1 bing1 
 
 
to work vaguely then retreat (idiom); sloppy and half-hearted; half-baked 
草酸 
草酸 
cao3 suan1 
 
 
oxalic acid C2H2O4 
草体 
草體 
cao3 ti3 
 
 
see 草書|草书 
草图 
草圖 
cao3 tu2 
 
 
a sketch; rough drawing 
草屯 
草屯 
cao3 tun2 
 
 
Caotun or Tsaotun town in Nantou county 南投縣|南投县, central Taiwan 
草屯镇 
草屯鎮 
cao3 tun2 zhen4 
 
 
Caotun or Tsaotun town in Nantou county 南投縣|南投县, central Taiwan 
草屋 
草屋 
cao3 wu1 
 
 
thatched hut 
草鸮 
草鴞 
cao3 xiao1 
 
 
(bird species of China) eastern grass owl (Tyto longimembris) 
草鞋 
草鞋 
cao3 xie2 
 
 
straw sandals 
草药 
草藥 
cao3 yao4 
 
 
herbal medicine 
草鱼 
草魚 
cao3 yu2 
 
 
grass carp 
草原 
草原 
cao3 yuan2 
 
 
grassland; prairie 
草原百灵 
草原百靈 
cao3 yuan2 bai3 ling2 
 
 
(bird species of China) calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra) 
草原雕 
草原鵰 
cao3 yuan2 diao1 
 
 
(bird species of China) steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) 
草原灰伯劳 
草原灰伯勞 
cao3 yuan2 hui1 bo2 lao2 
 
 
(bird species of China) steppe grey shrike (Lanius pallidirostris) 
草原巨蜥 
草原巨蜥 
cao3 yuan2 ju4 xi1 
 
 
Savannah monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) 
草原鹞 
草原鷂 
cao3 yuan2 yao4 
 
 
(bird species of China) pallid harrier (Circus macrourus) 
草纸 
草紙 
cao3 zhi3 
 
 
rough straw paper; toilet paper; brown paper 
草字头儿 
草字頭兒 
cao3 zi4 tou2 er5 
 
 
grass radical 艹 
柴草 
柴草 
chai2 cao3 
 
 
firewood 
长草区 
長草區 
chang2 cao3 qu1 
 
 
the rough (golf) 
车前草 
車前草 
che1 qian2 cao3 
 
 
plantain herb (Plantago asiatica) 
车轴草 
車軸草 
che1 zhou2 cao3 
 
 
honewort; Cryptotaenia japonica 
虫草 
蟲草 
chong2 cao3 
 
 
see 冬蟲夏草|冬虫夏草 
出草 
出草 
chu1 cao3 
 
 
(of Taiwan aborigines) to go on a headhunting expedition 
除草 
除草 
chu2 cao3 
 
 
to weed 
锄草 
鋤草 
chu2 cao3 
 
 
to hoe; to weed 
除草剂 
除草劑 
chu2 cao3 ji4 
 
 
weed killer; herbicide 
酢浆草 
酢漿草 
cu4 jiang1 cao3 
 
 
creeping oxalis; edelweiss 
寸草不生 
寸草不生 
cun4 cao3 bu4 sheng1 
 
 
lit. not even a blade of grass grows (idiom); fig. barren 
打草 
打草 
da3 cao3 
 
 
to mow grass; haymaking; to write a rough draft (of an essay etc) 
打草惊蛇 
打草驚蛇 
da3 cao3 jing1 she2 
 
 
lit. beat the grass to scare the snake; to inadvertently alert an enemy; to punish sb as a warning to others (idiom) 
大草鹛 
大草鶥 
da4 cao3 mei2 
 
 
(bird species of China) giant babax (Babax waddelli) 
大草莺 
大草鶯 
da4 cao3 ying1 
 
 
(bird species of China) Chinese grassbird (Graminicola striatus) 
大草原 
大草原 
da4 cao3 yuan2 
 
 
prairie; savanna 
大会报告起草人 
大會報告起草人 
da4 hui4 bao4 gao4 qi3 cao3 ren2 
 
 
rapporteur 
待宵草 
待宵草 
dai4 xiao1 cao3 
 
 
evening primrose 
稻草 
稻草 
dao4 cao3 
 
 
rice straw 
稻草人 
稻草人 
dao4 cao3 ren2 
 
 
scarecrow 
灯草 
燈草 
deng1 cao3 
 
 
the spongy, white pulp inside the stem of rush plants, used as a wick for oil lamps 
灯草绒 
燈草絨 
deng1 cao3 rong2 
 
 
see 燈芯絨|灯芯绒 
灯芯草 
燈芯草 
deng1 xin1 cao3 
 
 
see 燈心草|灯心草 
灯心草 
燈心草 
deng1 xin1 cao3 
 
 
rush (botany); Juncaceae 
冬虫夏草 
冬蟲夏草 
dong1 chong2 xia4 cao3 
 
 
caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis) 
东茅草盖 
東茅草蓋 
dong1 mao2 cao3 gai4 
 
 
thatched roof 
毒草名 
毒草名 
du2 cao3 ming2 
 
 
hemlock 
杜甫草堂 
杜甫草堂 
du4 fu3 cao3 tang2 
 
 
Du Fu's Thatched Cottage (park and museum in Chengdu) 
饭糗茹草 
飯糗茹草 
fan4 qiu3 ru2 cao3 
 
 
lit. to live on dry provisions and wild herbs (idiom); fig. to live in abject poverty 
方块草皮 
方塊草皮 
fang1 kuai4 cao3 pi2 
 
 
divot (golf) 
粪草 
糞草 
fen4 cao3 
 
 
trash; garbage 
干草 
乾草 
gan1 cao3 
 
 
hay 
甘草 
甘草 
gan1 cao3 
 
 
licorice root 
藁草 
藁草 
gao3 cao3 
 
 
hay; dried grass 
割草 
割草 
ge1 cao3 
 
 
mow grass 
割草机 
割草機 
ge1 cao3 ji1 
 
 
lawn mower (machine) 
谷草 
穀草 
gu3 cao3 
 
 
straw 
海草 
海草 
hai3 cao3 
 
 
seagrass 
含羞草 
含羞草 
han2 xiu1 cao3 
 
 
mimosa; sensitive plant (that closes its leaves when touched) 
好马不吃回头草 
好馬不吃回頭草 
hao3 ma3 bu4 chi1 hui2 tou2 cao3 
 
 
lit. a good horse doesn't come back to the same pasture (idiom); fig. one should not go back to one's past experiences (of love, job etc) 
禾草 
禾草 
he2 cao3 
 
 
grass 
呼伦贝尔草原 
呼倫貝爾草原 
hu1 lun2 bei4 er3 cao3 yuan2 
 
 
Hulunbuir grasslands of Inner Mongolia 
花草 
花草 
hua1 cao3 
 
 
flowers and plants 
荒草 
荒草 
huang1 cao3 
 
 
weeds; brush (vegetation); wild grassland 
荒烟蔓草 
荒煙蔓草 
huang1 yan1 man4 cao3 
 
 
lit. abandoned by men and choked with weeds; desolate (idiom) 
火绒草 
火絨草 
huo3 rong2 cao3 
 
 
edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) 
积草屯粮 
積草屯糧 
ji1 cao3 tun2 liang2 
 
 
to store up provisions against a war 
疾风劲草 
疾風勁草 
ji2 feng1 jing4 cao3 
 
 
the storm put strong grass to the test (idiom); fig. troubled times test a faithful minister; to show one's true colors after a stern test 
疾风知劲草,烈火见真金 
疾風知勁草,烈火見真金 
ji2 feng1 zhi1 jin4 cao3 - lie4 huo3 jian4 zhen1 jin1 
 
 
the storm put strong grass to the test, fire tests true gold (idiom); fig. troubled times test a faithful minister; to show one's true colors after a stern test 
疾风知劲草 
疾風知勁草 
ji2 feng1 zhi1 jing4 cao3 
 
 
the storm put strong grass to the test (idiom); fig. troubled times test a faithful minister; to show one's true colors after a stern test; also written 疾風勁草|疾风劲草 
尖草坪 
尖草坪 
jian1 cao3 ping2 
 
 
Jiancaoping district of Taiyuan city 太原市, Shanxi 
尖草坪区 
尖草坪區 
jian1 cao3 ping2 qu1 
 
 
Jiancaoping district of Taiyuan city 太原市, Shanxi 
剪草除根 
剪草除根 
jian3 cao3 chu2 gen1 
 
 
lit. cut grass and pull out roots (idiom); fig. to destroy root and branch; to eradicate 
剪草机 
剪草機 
jian3 cao3 ji1 
 
 
grass mower 
结草 
結草 
jie2 cao3 
 
 
deep gratitude up to death 
结草衔环 
結草銜環 
jie2 cao3 xian2 huan2 
 
 
to repay sb's kind acts (idiom) 
劲草 
勁草 
jing4 cao3 
 
 
tough upright grass; fig. a staunch character able to withstand tough test 
枯草 
枯草 
ku1 cao3 
 
 
withered grass; dry grass 
枯草杆菌 
枯草桿菌 
ku1 cao3 gan3 jun1 
 
 
bacillus subtilis 
枯草热 
枯草熱 
ku1 cao3 re4 
 
 
hay fever 
拉菲草 
拉菲草 
la1 fei1 cao3 
 
 
raffia (loanword) 
蓝草莓 
藍草莓 
lan2 cao3 mei2 
 
 
blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) 
捞稻草 
撈稻草 
lao1 dao4 cao3 
 
 
to fish for a straw; futile attempt to gain profit 
老牛吃嫩草 
老牛吃嫩草 
lao3 niu2 chi1 nen4 cao3 
 
 
lit. an old cow eats young grass (idiom); fig. a May-December relationship; a romance where the man is significantly older than the woman 
粮草 
糧草 
liang2 cao3 
 
 
army provisions; rations and fodder 
潦草 
潦草 
liao2 cao3 
 
 
careless; slovenly; illegible (of handwriting) 
鹿草 
鹿草 
lu4 cao3 
 
 
Lucao or Lutsao township in Chiayi county 嘉義縣|嘉义县, west Taiwan 
鹿草乡 
鹿草鄉 
lu4 cao3 xiang1 
 
 
Lucao or Lutsao township in Chiayi county 嘉義縣|嘉义县, west Taiwan 
绿草 
綠草 
lv4 cao3 
 
 
green grass 
绿草如茵 
綠草如茵 
lv4 cao3 ru2 yin1 
 
 
green grass like cushion (idiom); green meadow so inviting to sleep on 
马草夼 
馬草夼 
ma3 cao3 kuang3 
 
 
Macaokuang village in Tengjia township 滕家鎮|滕家镇, Rongcheng county 榮成|荣成, Weihai 威海, Shandong 
马草夼村 
馬草夼村 
ma3 cao3 kuang3 cun1 
 
 
Macaokuang village in Tengjia township 滕家鎮|滕家镇, Rongcheng county 榮成|荣成, Weihai 威海, Shandong 
马无夜草不肥,人无外快不富 
馬無夜草不肥,人無外快不富 
ma3 wu2 ye4 cao3 bu4 fei2 - ren2 wu2 wai4 kuai4 bu4 fu4 
 
 
a horse cannot get fat without an extra ration, a man cannot get rich without an extra income (idiom) 
蔓草 
蔓草 
man4 cao3 
 
 
creeper; climbing plant; twiner 
芒草 
芒草 
mang2 cao3 
 
 
Miscanthus (genus of grass) 
莽草 
莽草 
mang3 cao3 
 
 
Chinese anise (Ilicium anisatum, a shrub with poisonous leaves) 
茅草 
茅草 
mao2 cao3 
 
 
sogon grass 
矛纹草鹛 
矛紋草鶥 
mao2 wen2 cao3 mei2 
 
 
(bird species of China) Chinese babax (Babax lanceolatus) 
牧草 
牧草 
mu4 cao3 
 
 
pasture; forage grass; pasturage 
那拉提草原 
那拉提草原 
na4 la1 di1 cao3 yuan2 
 
 
Nalat grasslands 
南亚大草莺 
南亞大草鶯 
nan2 ya4 da4 cao3 ying1 
 
 
(bird species of China) Indian grassbird (Graminicola bengalensis) 
拈花惹草 
拈花惹草 
nian1 hua1 re3 cao3 
 
 
lit. to pick the flowers and trample the grass (idiom); fig. to womanize; to frequent brothels; to sow one's wild oats 
柠檬草 
檸檬草 
ning2 meng2 cao3 
 
 
lemongrass 
牛筋草 
牛筋草 
niu2 jin1 cao3 
 
 
wire grass (Eleusine indica) 
牛膝草 
牛膝草 
niu2 xi1 cao3 
 
 
hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) 
皮草 
皮草 
pi2 cao3 
 
 
fur clothing 
萍蓬草 
萍蓬草 
ping2 peng2 cao3 
 
 
spatterdock (Nuphar pumilum), a type of lily 
蒲草箱 
蒲草箱 
pu2 cao3 xiang1 
 
 
rush basket 
奇花异草 
奇花異草 
qi2 hua1 yi4 cao3 
 
 
very rarely seen, unusual (idiom) 
起草 
起草 
qi3 cao3 
 
 
to make a draft; to draw up (plans) 
浅草 
淺草 
qian3 cao3 
 
 
Asakusa, district of Tokyo with an atmosphere of old Japan, famous for the 7th century Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji 
茜草 
茜草 
qian4 cao3 
 
 
Rubia cordifolia; Indian madder; munjit 
墙头草 
牆頭草 
qiang2 tou2 cao3 
 
 
sb who goes whichever way the wind blows; sb with no mind of one's own; easily swayed person; opportunist 
青草 
青草 
qing1 cao3 
 
 
grass 
惹草拈花 
惹草拈花 
re3 cao3 nian1 hua1 
 
 
see 拈花惹草 
惹草沾花 
惹草沾花 
re3 cao3 zhan1 hua1 
 
 
see 沾花惹草 
人生一世,草木一春 
人生一世,草木一春 
ren2 sheng1 yi1 shi4 - cao3 mu4 yi1 chun1 
 
 
Man has but one life, grass but one spring (idiom). fig. the brevity of human existence 
如草 
如草 
ru2 cao3 
 
 
grassy 
乳草 
乳草 
ru3 cao3 
 
 
milkweeds (genus Asclepias) 
三道眉草鹀 
三道眉草鵐 
san1 dao4 mei2 cao3 wu2 
 
 
(bird species of China) meadow bunting (Emberiza cioides) 
三棱草 
三稜草 
san1 leng2 cao3 
 
 
sedge herb (Cyperus rotundus) 
三叶草 
三葉草 
san1 ye4 cao3 
 
 
clover; trefoil 
杀草快 
殺草快 
sha1 cao3 kuai4 
 
 
diquat 
蛇麻草 
蛇麻草 
she2 ma2 cao3 
 
 
hop (Humulus lupulus), climbing plant whose flower cones are used in brewing beer 
麝香草 
麝香草 
she4 xiang1 cao3 
 
 
thyme 
神农本草经 
神農本草經 
shen2 nong2 ben3 cao3 jing1 
 
 
Shennong's Compendium of Materia Medica, a Han dynasty pharmacological compendium, 3 scrolls 
食草动物 
食草動物 
shi2 cao3 dong4 wu4 
 
 
herbivore 
鼠尾草 
鼠尾草 
shu3 wei3 cao3 
 
 
sage (Salvia officinalis) 
水草 
水草 
shui3 cao3 
 
 
water plants; habitat with water source and grass 
饲草 
飼草 
si4 cao3 
 
 
forage grass 
四叶草 
四葉草 
si4 ye4 cao3 
 
 
four-leaf clover 
宿草 
宿草 
su4 cao3 
 
 
grass that has grown on a grave since last year; (fig.) grave; to have died long ago; fodder provided to animals for the night 
蓑草 
蓑草 
suo1 cao3 
 
 
Chinese alpine rush (botany) 
莎草 
莎草 
suo1 cao3 
 
 
coco-grass or nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus) 
薹草 
薹草 
tai2 cao3 
 
 
sedge 
薹草属 
薹草屬 
tai2 cao3 shu3 
 
 
genus Carex 
天涯何处无芳草 
天涯何處無芳草 
tian1 ya2 he2 chu4 wu2 fang1 cao3 
 
 
there are plenty more fish in the sea (idiom) 
通草 
通草 
tong1 cao3 
 
 
rice-paper plant (Tetrapanax papyriferus) 
兔子不吃窝边草 
兔子不吃窩邊草 
tu4 zi5 bu4 chi1 wo1 bian1 cao3 
 
 
A rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow (idiom); One shouldn't do anything to harm one's neighbors. 
忘忧草 
忘憂草 
wang4 you1 cao3 
 
 
daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) 
乌拉特草原 
烏拉特草原 
wu1 la1 te4 cao3 yuan2 
 
 
Urat plain in Bayan Nur 巴彥淖爾|巴彦淖尔, Inner Mongolia 
溪黄草 
溪黃草 
xi1 huang2 cao3 
 
 
Rabdosia lophanthoides (no common name), herb plant of Lamiaceae family (together with mint and lavender), used in TCM 
蟋蟀草 
蟋蟀草 
xi1 shuai4 cao3 
 
 
wire grass (Eleusine indica) 
仙草 
仙草 
xian1 cao3 
 
 
medicinal herb (genus Mesona); grass jelly 
香草 
香草 
xiang1 cao3 
 
 
aromatic herb; vanilla; alternative name for Eupatorium fortunei; (fig.) loyal and dependable person (old) 
香草精 
香草精 
xiang1 cao3 jing1 
 
 
vanilla; vanilla extract; methyl vanillin C8H8O3 
香草兰 
香草蘭 
xiang1 cao3 lan2 
 
 
vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) 
香根草 
香根草 
xiang1 gen1 cao3 
 
 
vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanoides) 
校草 
校草 
xiao4 cao3 
 
 
the most handsome boy in the school (see also 校花) 
缬草 
纈草 
xie2 cao3 
 
 
valerian (Valeriana officinalis) 
新修本草 
新修本草 
xin1 xiu1 ben3 cao3 
 
 
Tang dynasty compendium of herbal medicine 
行草 
行草 
xing2 cao3 
 
 
semi-cursive script 
熊胆草 
熊膽草 
xiong2 dan3 cao3 
 
 
Conyza blinii 
萱草 
萱草 
xuan1 cao3 
 
 
Hemerocallis fulva; daylily 
薰衣草 
薰衣草 
xun1 yi1 cao3 
 
 
lavender 
熏衣草 
熏衣草 
xun1 yi1 cao3 
 
 
lavender 
烟草 
煙草 
yan1 cao3 
 
 
tobacco 
药草 
藥草 
yao4 cao3 
 
 
medicinal herb 
野草 
野草 
ye3 cao3 
 
 
weeds; mistress or prostitute (old) 
虉草 
虉草 
yi4 cao3 
 
 
reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) 
益母草 
益母草 
yi4 mu3 cao3 
 
 
motherwort (Leonurus heterophyllus or L. cardiaca) 
隐身草 
隱身草 
yin3 shen1 cao3 
 
 
legendary grass conferring invisibility; fig. to conceal oneself or one's plans 
隐身草儿 
隱身草兒 
yin3 shen1 cao3 er5 
 
 
erhua variant of 隱身草|隐身草 
樱花草 
櫻花草 
ying1 hua1 cao3 
 
 
primrose 
又要马儿好,又要马儿不吃草 
又要馬兒好,又要馬兒不吃草 
you4 yao4 ma3 er5 hao3 - you4 yao4 ma3 er5 bu4 chi1 cao3 
 
 
see 又要馬兒跑,又要馬兒不吃草|又要马儿跑,又要马儿不吃草 
又要马儿跑,又要马儿不吃草 
又要馬兒跑,又要馬兒不吃草 
you4 yao4 ma3 er5 pao3 - you4 yao4 ma3 er5 bu4 chi1 cao3 
 
 
lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom); fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too 
鱼腥草 
魚腥草 
yu2 xing1 cao3 
 
 
Houttuynia cordata 
阅微草堂笔记 
閱微草堂筆記 
yue4 wei1 cao3 tang2 bi3 ji4 
 
 
Notes on a Minutely Observed Thatched Hut by Ji Yun 紀昀|纪昀, novel of the supernatural; The Thatched Study of Close Scrutiny 
杂草 
雜草 
za2 cao3 
 
 
weeds 
苲草 
苲草 
zha3 cao3 
 
 
hornwort 
沾花惹草 
沾花惹草 
zhan1 hua1 re3 cao3 
 
 
to fondle the flowers and trample the grass (idiom); to womanize; to frequent brothels; to sow one's wild oats 
斩草除根 
斬草除根 
zhan3 cao3 chu2 gen1 
 
 
to cut weeds and eliminate the roots (idiom); to destroy root and branch; to eliminate completely 
招风惹草 
招風惹草 
zhao1 feng1 re3 cao3 
 
 
to stir up trouble (idiom); to sow discord 
纸草 
紙草 
zhi3 cao3 
 
 
papyrus 
中草药 
中草藥 
zhong1 cao3 yao4 
 
 
Chinese herbal medicine 
中亚草原 
中亞草原 
zhong1 ya4 cao3 yuan2 
 
 
Central Asian grasslands 
猪草 
豬草 
zhu1 cao3 
 
 
ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia); fishwort (Houttuynia cordata) 
紫草 
紫草 
zi3 cao3 
 
 
red root gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon); flowering plant whose roots provide purple dye; arnebia (plant genus in family Boraginaceae) 
紫草科 
紫草科 
zi3 cao3 ke1 
 
 
Boraginaceae (family of flowers and bushes) 
棕草鹛 
棕草鶥 
zong1 cao3 mei2 
 
 
(bird species of China) Tibetan babax (Babax koslowi)