向日葵
xiàngrìkuí
The Chinese word for sunflower is 向日葵 (xiàngrìkuí). Wiktionary also lists 日頭花 / 日头花 (rìtóuhuā) and 葵花 (kuíhuā).
Meaning: flower (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 向日葵 | xiàngrìkuí |
| 日頭花 / 日头花 | rìtóuhuā |
| 葵花 | kuíhuā |
What does it mean word for word?
The components of 向日葵 are 向 (facing), 日 (sun) and 葵 (a type of sunflower/mallow).
Which one should you use?
向日葵 is the formal botanical name, while 葵花 is a more colloquial shortening often used in daily speech or when referring to sunflower seeds.
Is it said differently in some regions?
日头花 / 日头花 is a dialectal variation used in certain regions instead of the standard 向日葵.
How do you pronounce it?
xiàngrìkuí
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the sunflower's habit of facing the sun is often used as a metaphor for loyalty, steadfastness and unwavering devotion to a person or ideal.
- While 向日葵 describes the flower, the phrase 嗑葵花籽 (cracking sunflower seeds) uses a specific verb 嗑 that describes the unique action of using teeth to split a shell.
- Chinese art often pairs the 向日葵 with the sun to represent 'yang' energy, symbolizing vitality, warmth and masculine power.
Examples in context
- 我喜欢嗑葵花籽。I like cracking sunflower seeds.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for cracking sunflower seeds using 葵花.Tatoeba #800262 by GlossaMatik, translation #800261 by FeuDRenais2
- 那是一朵向日葵。It's a sunflower.This sentence is useful for identifying a sunflower using 向日葵.Tatoeba #375315 by fucongcong, translation #42651 by CK
- 我的花园里有一朵美丽的向日葵。In my garden, there is a beautiful sunflower.
- 可爱的太阳花在窗台上绽放。The lovely sunflower is blooming on the windowsill.
- 这片向日葵开得很漂亮。Zhè piàn xiàngrìkuí kāi de hěn piàoliang.This patch of sunflowers is blooming beautifully.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran and Xiaowen are walking through a garden.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，你看那边有向日葵！Xiǎowén, nǐ kàn nàbiān yǒu xiàngrìkuí!Xiaowen, look, there are sunflowers over there!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen哇，它们长得真高。Wa, tāmen zhǎng de zhēn gāo.Wow, they have grown so tall.
- 浩然 Haoran我想给向日葵拍张照。Wǒ xiǎng gěi xiàngrìkuí pāi zhāng zhào.I want to take a photo of the sunflowers.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好啊，我来帮你拍。Hǎo a, wǒ lái bāng nǐ pāi.Sure, I'll help you take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sunflower” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
