芦苇
lúwěi
The English word "reed" is translated into Chinese as 芦苇 (lúwěi).
芦苇 is a noun used to refer to a grass-like plant.
Meaning: grass-like plant (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of two parts: the character 芦 (lú), which refers to a reed or cane and the character 苇 (wěi), which refers to a reed or a reed-like plant.
How do you pronounce it?
lúwěi
Did you know?
- There is a Chinese idiom involving the 'reed' that describes a situation where one is 'leaning on a reed', meaning to rely on something fragile or unreliable.
- While 芦苇 refers to the plant, the character 芦 also appears in the word for 'asparagus' 芦笋 (lúsǔn), showing a linguistic link between these very different plants.
- In traditional Chinese ink painting, 芦苇 is a common motif used to represent the resilience of the spirit because reeds bend in the wind but do not break.
Examples in context
- 这个湿地里长满了芦苇。This wetland is filled with reeds.
- 河边长满了芦苇。Hébiān zhǎng mǎn le lúwěi.Reeds are growing all along the riverbank.
- 那片芦苇在风中摇摆。Nà piàn lúwěi zài fēng zhōng yáobǎi.That patch of reeds is swaying in the wind.
- 我们需要穿过这片芦苇丛。Wǒmen xūyào chuānguò zhè piàn lúwěi cóng.We need to pass through this reed thicket.
Example conversation
Two people are walking through a nature reserve.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你看，那边的芦苇很漂亮。Nǐ kàn, nà biān de lúwěi hěn piàoliang.Look, the reeds over there are beautiful.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是啊，不过那里可能有蚊子。Shì a, bùguò nàlǐ kěnéng yǒu wénzi.Yes, but there might be mosquitoes there.
- 志强 Zhiqiang晓雯，我们靠近一点看吧。Xiǎowén, wǒmen kàojìn yīdiǎn kàn ba.Xiaowen, let's go a bit closer to look.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好吧，那我们就快点走。Hǎo ba, nà wǒmen jiù kuài diǎn zǒu.Alright, then let's walk quickly.
