HSK · Level 70
75 words
Chinese word
牡丹
Pronunciation
Pinyinmǔ dān
Meaning
- nounpeony
Example
春天，牡丹开得很鲜艳。chūn tiān mǔ dān kāi de hěn xiān yàn
In spring, peonies bloom in vivid colors.
More examples
公园里很多人来观赏牡丹。gōng yuán lǐ hěn duō rén lái guān shǎng mǔ dān
Many people come to the park to admire peonies.
Core concept
A showy garden flower with large, densely layered petals that open in spring.
Common phrases
观赏牡丹guān shǎng mǔ dān
admire peonies
栽培牡丹zāi péi mǔ dān
cultivate peonies
洛阳牡丹luò yáng mǔ dān
Luoyang peonies
Similar words
梅花méi huā: A flower that endures cold weather, blooms around winter, and represents integrity and patience.
菊花jú huā: A flower of autumn associated with longevity and firm moral character.
兰花lán huā: A flower valued for its modest, refined, and graceful beauty.
莲花lián huā: A white or pink flower floating on water that represents purity and spiritual clarity.
Definition in Chinese
一种观赏植物，通常指庭院或园艺栽培的牡丹，春季开出大而鲜艳的花，花瓣厚实且层层重叠，常用于庭园观赏和插花。yì zhǒng guān shǎng zhí wù tōng cháng zhǐ tíng yuàn huò yuán yì zāi péi de mǔ dān chūn jì kāi chū dà ér xiān yàn de huā huā bàn hòu shí qiě céng céng chóng dié cháng yòng yú tíng yuán guān shǎng hé chā huā
Word origin
牡丹 (mǔdān, "peony") is written as 牡 (mǔ, "male") + 丹 (dān, "cinnabar-red"), but the full combination functions as the established name of the flower rather than a literal phrase.
Usage tips
- In Chinese cultural writing and decoration, the flower commonly suggests wealth, honor, and elegance, so it can carry social meaning beyond its botanical identity.
Related words
- 牡丹花mǔ dān huāpeony flowernoun
- 牡丹园mǔ dān yuánpeony gardennoun