兰 lán orchid
How it came to be
The full form is grass over a barred gate, and the gate gives the sound: the plant called lan, the orchid. Simplification threw the gate away and left three strokes under the grass.
用法
- Means orchid, a flower symbolizing elegance and refinement - 兰花 (lánhuā) orchid; 木兰 (mùlán) magnolia / the name Mulan.
- One of the 'four gentlemen' plants in Chinese art. Common in given names and place names (兰州 Lánzhōu).