百合
bǎihé
The Chinese word for lily is 百合 (bǎihé). If unsure, use 百合. Wiktionary also lists 百合花 (bǎihéhuā).
Meaning: flower in the genus Lilium (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 百合 | bǎihé |
| 百合花 | bǎihéhuā |
百合 refers to the flower in the genus Lilium. In Chinese culture, this plant symbolizes purity, innocence and good fortune.
What does it mean word for word?
The name 百合 literally means "hundred joins" or "hundred unions."
Which one should you use?
百合 is the term for the botanical plant. If you are referring specifically to the physical bloom, you can use 百合花 to be more explicit. For the female given name Lily, use the phonetic transliteration 莉莉 instead of the botanical term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions of Southern China, the lily is referred to as 百合.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
bǎihé
When do people say it?
In Chinese culture, the lily symbolizes purity, innocence and good fortune.
Did you know?
- In modern internet subcultures, the term 百合 has been repurposed to refer to 'yuri', a genre of media focusing on lesbian relationships.
- Because of the 'hundred unions' meaning, the word is a key component in the wedding blessing 百年好合, which wishes a couple 'a hundred years of good union'.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, 百合 bulbs are used as a food and medicine to soothe the lungs and calm the nerves.
Examples in context
- 桌子上有一束百合。Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī shù bǎihé.There is a bouquet of lilies on the table.
- 我非常喜欢百合的香味。Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān bǎihé de xiāngwèi.I really like the scent of lilies.
- 这些百合看起来很新鲜。Zhèxiē bǎihé kàn qǐlái hěn xīnxiān.These lilies look very fresh.
Example conversation
A florist shop where Jia Yi is buying flowers for a gift.
- 浩然 Haoran你想买哪种花？Nǐ xiǎng mǎi nǎ zhǒng huā?What kind of flowers do you want to buy?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我想买白色的百合。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi báisè de bǎihé.I want to buy white lilies.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，这些百合很漂亮。Hǎo de, zhèxiē bǎihé hěn piàoliang.Okay, these lilies are very beautiful.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那我就拿这一束吧。Nà wǒ jiù ná zhè yī shù ba.Then I will take this bouquet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lily” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 百合, CC BY-SA 4.0.
