華

See also: 华 and 崋

華 U+83EF, 華 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-83EF ← 菮 [U+83EE] CJK Unified Ideographs 菰 → [U+83F0]

華 U+FAB4, 華 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-FAB4 ← 荒 [U+FAB3] CJK Compatibility Ideographs 蝹 → [U+FAB5]

Translingual

Han character

華 (Kangxi radical 140, 艸+8 in traditional Chinese, 艸+7 in mainland China and Japanese, 12 strokes in Chinese in traditional Chinese, 10 strokes in mainland China and Japanese, 11 strokes in Korean, cangjie input 廿一廿十 (TMTJ), four-corner 4450₄, composition ⿱艹⿻丅⿱艹二(HTV) or ⿱艹⿻亖丨(JK))

Derived characters

• 𠎑, 嘩(哗), 墷, 嬅(𫰡), 㠏(㟆), 𭘲, 㦊(𫺆), 撶(𫼧), 澕, 璍, 曄(晔), 𦠜, 樺(桦), 燁(烨), 皣, 瞱(𬑓), 𬒢, 䅿, 𬚦, 𧑍, 㒯, 譁, 𨅯, 鏵(铧), 鞾(𫖇), 韡(𮧵), 驊(骅), 𩻮(𫚘), 𫛓, 𪟥, 鷨(𪉊), 𡪤, 曅, 𨶱

Related characters

• 华 (Simplified Chinese)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1039, character 14
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 31119
• Dae Jaweon: page 1497, character 12
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 5, page 3213, character 1
• Unihan data for U+83EF

• Unihan data for U+FAB4

Chinese

trad.		華
simp.		华
alternative forms		𠌶 𦻏 蕐 䔢 𦾓

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 華
Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (華) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
鞾	*qʰʷa
華	*qʰʷraː, *ɡʷraː, *ɡʷraːs
譁	*qʰʷraː
樺	*ɡʷraː, *ɡʷraːs
嘩	*ɡʷraː
驊	*ɡʷraː
鏵	*ɡʷraː
崋	*ɡʷraː, *ɡʷraːs

Pictogram (象形) ; this was the original form of 花 (OC *hʷraː, “flower”). In the bronze inscription form, the top part of the glyph resembles flowers of a plant, and the bottom part (于) resembles its stalk and leaves. Also phono-semantic (形聲 / 形声) , with 于 (OC *ɢʷa) functioning as the phonetic part. In the seal script, 艸 (“grass; plant”) was added as a semantic component.

華 (𦻏) and 𠌶 were initially the same character, but they were erroneously split in Shuowen into two entries.

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): huá (hua²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄏㄨㄚˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): hua²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): хуа (hua, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): waa⁴ / waa^4-2

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): va³

• Gan (Wiktionary): fa⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): fà

  (Meixian, Guangdong): fa²

• Jin (Wiktionary): hua¹
• Northern Min (KCR): uǎ
• Eastern Min (BUC): huà
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): hôa / hoa

  (Teochew, Peng'im): hua⁵ / ê⁶

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶gho
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): fa²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: huá
    • Zhuyin: ㄏㄨㄚˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: huá
    • Wade–Giles: hua²
    • Yale: hwá
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: hwa
    • Palladius: хуа (xua)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xu̯ä³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: hua²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xua
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xua²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: хуа (hua, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xua²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: waa⁴ / waa^4-2
    • Yale: wàh / wá
    • Cantonese Pinyin: waa⁴ / waa^4-2
    • Guangdong Romanization: wa⁴ / wa^4-2
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /waː²¹/, /waː²¹⁻³⁵/

Note: waa4-2 - used in names.

• • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: va³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /va²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: fa⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /fa³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: fà
    • Hakka Romanization System: fa^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: fa²
    • Sinological IPA: /fa¹¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: fa²
    • Sinological IPA: /fa¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: hua¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /xua¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: uǎ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ua²¹/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: huà
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hua⁵³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hôa
    • Tâi-lô: huâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: hoaa
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /hua²³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei): /hua²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /hua¹³/
  • (Hokkien: General Taiwanese, Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hoa
    • Tâi-lô: hua
    • Phofsit Daibuun: hoaf
    • IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung, Zhangzhou): /hua⁴⁴/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: hua⁵ / ê⁶
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: huâ / ĕ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hua⁵⁵/, /e³⁵/

Note: ê6 - only used in 華美 / 华美, a village in Chao'an, Guangdong.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶gho
    • MiniDict: gho^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³hho
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɦo²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: fa²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɸa̠¹³/

---

• Middle Chinese: hwae

Rime
Character	華
Reading #	1/3
Initial (聲)	匣 (33)
Final (韻)	麻 (99)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	II
Fanqie	戸花切
Baxter	hwae
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦˠua/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦʷᵚa/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣua/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦwaɨ/
Li Rong	/ɣua/
Wang Li	/ɣwa/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ɣwa/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	huá
Expected Cantonese Reflex	waa4

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*N-qʷʰˤra/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ɡʷraː/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	華
Reading #	2/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	huá
Middle Chinese	‹ hwæ ›
Old Chinese	/*N-qʷʰˁra/
English	flower (v.); flowery (adj.)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	華
Reading #	2/3
No.	5312
Phonetic component	華
Rime group	魚
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	華
Old Chinese	/*ɡʷraː/
Notes	說文於聲

Definitions

華

1. brilliance; magnificence

   光華／光华  ―  guānghuá  ―  brilliance

   • 若木在建木西，末有十日，其華照下地。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     若木在建木西，末有十日，其华照下地。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Huainanzi, 2^nd century BCE

     Ruòmù zài jiànmù xī, mò yǒu shí rì, qí huá zhào xiàdì. [Pinyin]

     The ruomu is west of the jianmu, and on its top are ten suns, whose brilliance shines on the earth.

2. (good) times; years; period

   年華／年华  ―  niánhuá  ―  good times

3. young; youthful
4. literary grace; talent for literature
5. prestige; status; fame
6. colourful; brilliant (especially of carvings and decorations)
7. magnificent; gorgeous; resplendent

   華麗／华丽  ―  huálì  ―  gorgeous; splendid

   • 五色點注，華羽參差。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     五色点注，华羽参差。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 3rd century, 鍾會 (Zhong Hui), 孔雀賦

     Wǔsè diǎnzhù, huá yǔ cēncī. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

8. delicious; tasty
9. essence; quintessence

   含英咀華／含英咀华  ―  hányīngjǔhuá  ―  to savour the merits of a literary work

   • 物華天寶，龍光射牛斗之墟。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     物华天宝，龙光射牛斗之墟。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 675, Wang Bo, 滕王閣序

     Wùhuátiānbǎo, lóngguāng shè niúdǒu zhī xū. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

10. (honorific) your; your honourable

    華誕／华诞  ―  huádàn  ―  birthday; your birthday

11. (exalted) Short for 華夏／华夏 (Huáxià): land of illustrious clothing and grand ritual—China; Chinese culture

    訪華／访华  ―  fǎng huá  ―  to visit China

    駐華大使館／驻华大使馆  ―  zhùhuá dàshǐguǎn  ―  embassy in China

    華僑/華人／华侨/华人  ―  huáqiáo / huárén  ―  Chinese residing abroad

    • 裔不謀夏，夷不亂華。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      裔不谋夏，夷不乱华。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

      Yì bù móu xià, yí bù luàn huá. [Pinyin]

      (please add an English translation of this usage example)

12. Short for 漢語／汉语 (Hànyǔ, “Chinese language”).
13. luxuriant; flourishing; prosperous

    繁華／繁华  ―  fánhuá  ―  prosperous

14. noble; influential; eminent
15. grey (of hair)

    • 故國神遊，多情應笑我，早生華髮。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      故国神游，多情应笑我，早生华发。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: 1082, Su Shi, 念奴嬌·赤壁懷古

      Gùguó shényóu, duōqíng yīng xiào wǒ, zǎo shēng huáfà. [Pinyin]

      (please add an English translation of this usage example)

16. flashy; extravagant; showy; ostentatious; florid

    華而不實／华而不实  ―  huá'érbùshí  ―  flashy and without substance

17. face powder

    鉛華／铅华  ―  qiānhuá  ―  lead face powder

18. (historical, obsolete) cover of a carriage
19. (obsolete) fruit (of a cucurbit plant)
20. Alternative form of 譁 / 哗 (“noisy”)

Synonyms

• (China):

edit

• 中 (abbreviation)
• 中共國 / 中共国 (zhōnggòngguó) (derogatory)
• 中原 (Zhōngyuán)
• 中國 / 中国 (Zhōngguó)
• 中華 / 中华
• 九州 (Jiǔzhōu) (literary)
• 唐山 (Tángshān)
• 域中 (yùzhōng) (literary, figurative)
• 天下 (tiānxià) (lofty)
• 天朝 (Tiāncháo) (historical or Internet slang)
• 契弟 (qìdì) (Internet slang, derogatory)
• 德祐 (Déyòu) (Myanmar)
• 支那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete, now usually derogatory or offensive)
• 桃花石 (Táohuāshí) (obsolete)
• 牆國 / 墙国 (qiángguó) (Taiwan, derogatory, sarcastic)
• 猜拿 (Cāiná) (transliteration of English China)
• 神州 (Shénzhōu) (literary)
• 種花家 / 种花家 (Zhònghuājiā) (slang, humorous)
• 脂那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete)
• 至那 (Zhìnà) (obsolete)
• 華 / 华 (abbreviation)
• 華夏 / 华夏 (Huáxià)
• 諸夏 / 诸夏 (Zhūxià)
• 諸華 / 诸华 (Zhūhuá)
• 貴支 / 贵支 (guìzhī) (Mainland China, Internet slang, neologism, derogatory, sarcastic, offensive)
• 贏國 / 赢国 (Hong Kong, humorous, derogatory, sarcastic)
• 赤縣 / 赤县 (Chìxiàn) (literary)
• 赤縣神州 / 赤县神州 (Chìxiàn Shénzhōu) (literary)
• 震旦 (Zhèndàn) (archaic)

 

Compounds

• 三華聚頂 / 三华聚顶
• 中華 / 中华
• 中華人民共和國 / 中华人民共和国 (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó)
• 中華商場 / 中华商场
• 中華大學 / 中华大学
• 中華山 / 中华山 (Zhōnghuáshān)
• 中華新韻 / 中华新韵
• 中華民國 / 中华民国 (Zhōnghuá Mínguó)
• 中華民族 / 中华民族 (Zhōnghuá mínzú)
• 中華路 / 中华路 (Zhōnghuálù)
• 九華山 / 九华山 (Jiǔhuá Shān)
• 九華帳 / 九华帐 (jiǔhuázhàng)
• 二八年華 / 二八年华
• 五胡亂華 / 五胡乱华 (Wǔhúluànhuá)
• 五華 / 五华 (Wǔhuá)
• 京華 / 京华 (jīnghuá)
• 光華 / 光华 (guānghuá)
• 光華射目 / 光华射目
• 內華達 / 内华达 (Nèihuádá)
• 公西華 / 公西华
• 凝華 / 凝华 (nínghuá)
• 務實去華 / 务实去华
• 南華大學 / 南华大学
• 南華經 / 南华经 (Nánhuájīng)
• 含英咀華 / 含英咀华 (hányīngjǔhuá)
• 咀英嚼華 / 咀英嚼华
• 嘉年華會 / 嘉年华会
• 國華 / 国华 (guóhuá)
• 地望高華 / 地望高华
• 夢華 / 梦华
• 天地精華 / 天地精华
• 奢華 / 奢华 (shēhuá)
• 容華 / 容华
• 富貴榮華 / 富贵荣华
• 年華 / 年华 (niánhuá)
• 悃愊無華 / 悃愊无华
• 悔讀南華 / 悔读南华
• 愛德華島 / 爱德华岛 (Àidéhuá Dǎo)
• 愛德華湖 / 爱德华湖
• 愛荷華州 / 爱荷华州
• 才華 / 才华 (cáihuá)
• 捃華 / 捃华
• 捐華務實 / 捐华务实
• 摭華捐實 / 摭华捐实
• 新華 / 新华 (Xīnhuá)
• 新華社 / 新华社 (Xīnhuáshè)
• 日精月華 / 日精月华
• 日華 / 日华
• 昇華 / 升华 (shēnghuá)
• 昭華 / 昭华
• 月華 / 月华 (yuèhuá)
• 朱華 / 朱华
• 朱輪華轂 / 朱轮华毂
• 東華大學 / 东华大学
• 東華門 / 东华门
• 榮華 / 荣华 (rónghuá)
• 榮華富貴 / 荣华富贵 (rónghuáfùguì)
• 樸實無華 / 朴实无华 (pǔshíwúhuá)
• 樸素無華 / 朴素无华
• 樸質無華 / 朴质无华
• 步月華 / 步月华
• 歲華 / 岁华
• 水木清華 / 水木清华
• 洗淨鉛華 / 洗净铅华
• 浮華 / 浮华 (fúhuá)
• 浮華世界 / 浮华世界
• 清華 / 清华 (Qīnghuá)
• 清華園 / 清华园 (Qīnghuáyuán)
• 清華大學 / 清华大学
• 渥太華 / 渥太华 (Wòtàihuá)
• 溫哥華 / 温哥华 (Wēngēhuá)
• 物華 / 物华 (wùhuá)
• 物華天寶 / 物华天宝
• 玉華 / 玉华 (yùhuá)
• 瑤華浦 / 瑶华浦
• 瑤華音 / 瑶华音
• 白華 / 白华 (báihuá)
• 白華之怨 / 白华之怨
• 碧華 / 碧华 (bìhuá)
• 萬華 / 万华 (Wànhuá)
• 穠華 / 秾华
• 精華 / 精华 (jīnghuá)
• 紛華 / 纷华
• 繁華 / 繁华 (fánhuá)
• 繁華世界 / 繁华世界
• 翠華 / 翠华 (cuìhuá)
• 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá)
• 興華 / 兴华 (Xīnghuá)
• 芬華 / 芬华
• 芳華 / 芳华 (fānghuá)
• 苕之華 / 苕之华
• 英華 / 英华
• 苕華玉 / 苕华玉
• 荳蔻年華 / 豆蔻年华 (dòukòuniánhuá)
• 華中 / 华中 (huázhōng)
• 華人 / 华人 (Huárén)
• 華倫泰節 / 华伦泰节
• 華僑 / 华侨 (huáqiáo)
• 華僑條款 / 华侨条款
• 華光 / 华光
• 華北 / 华北 (Huáběi)
• 華北平原 / 华北平原 (Huáběi Píngyuán)
• 華南 / 华南 (Huánán)
• 華嚴五祖 / 华严五祖
• 華嚴宗 / 华严宗
• 華嚴經 / 华严经
• 華埠 / 华埠 (huábù)
• 華夏 / 华夏 (Huáxià)
• 華宗 / 华宗
• 華容 / 华容 (Huáróng)
• 華屋 / 华屋
• 華屋丘墟 / 华屋丘墟
• 華屋山丘 / 华屋山丘
• 華工 / 华工 (huágōng)
• 華年 / 华年 (huánián)
• 華府 / 华府 (Huáfǔ)
• 華彩 / 华彩 (huácǎi)
• 華志 / 华志
• 華文 / 华文 (Huáwén)
• 華族 / 华族 (huázú)
• 華東 / 华东 (Huádōng)
• 華格納 / 华格纳 (Huágénà)
• 華梵大學 / 华梵大学
• 華氏 / 华氏 (Huáshì)
• 華氏溫度計 / 华氏温度计
• 華氏溫標 / 华氏温标
• 華沙 / 华沙 (Huáshā)
• 華沙公約 / 华沙公约
• 華清宮 / 华清宫
• 華燈 / 华灯 (huádēng)
• 華燈初上 / 华灯初上
• 華爾滋 / 华尔滋
• 華爾茲 / 华尔兹 (huá'ěrzī)
• 華爾街 / 华尔街 (Huá'ěrjiē)
• 華甸 / 华甸
• 華界 / 华界
• 華盛頓 / 华盛顿 (Huáshèngdùn)
• 華視 / 华视 (Huáshì)
• 華簪 / 华簪
• 華絲葛 / 华丝葛
• 華美 / 华美
• 華翰 / 华翰
• 華而不實 / 华而不实 (huá'érbùshí)
• 華胥 / 华胥 (Huáxū)
• 華胄 / 华胄 (huázhòu)
• 華胥世 / 华胥世
• 華胥之夢 / 华胥之梦
• 華胥調 / 华胥调
• 華腴 / 华腴
• 華膴 / 华𰮇
• 華興會 / 华兴会
• 菁華 / 菁华 (jīnghuá)
• 華萊士 / 华莱士 (Huáláishì)
• 華蓋 / 华盖 (huágài)
• 華表 / 华表 (huábiǎo)
• 華表鶴歸 / 华表鹤归
• 華裔 / 华裔 (huáyì)
• 華西 / 华西
• 華語 / 华语 (Huáyǔ)
• 華誕 / 华诞 (huádàn)
• 華豔 / 华艳
• 華貴 / 华贵 (huáguì)
• 華辭 / 华辞 (huácí)
• 華農東 / 华农东 (Huánóngdōng)
• 華農西 / 华农西 (Huánóngxī)
• 華里 (huálǐ)
• 華鎣 / 华蓥 (Huáyíng)
• 華陽國志 / 华阳国志
• 華靡 / 华靡 (huámǐ)
• 華頂峰 / 华顶峰
• 華髮 / 华发 (huáfà)
• 華鬘 / 华鬘
• 華鬢 / 华鬓
• 華麗 / 华丽 (huálì)
• 虛華 / 虚华 (xūhuá)
• 裳裳者華 / 裳裳者华
• 詞華 / 词华 (cíhuá)
• 詞華典贍 / 词华典赡
• 豆蔻年華 / 豆蔻年华 (dòukòuniánhuá)
• 豐華 / 丰华
• 豪華 / 豪华 (háohuá)
• 豪華車 / 豪华车
• 踵事增華 / 踵事增华
• 辱承華翰 / 辱承华翰
• 逸景華庭 / 逸景华庭 (Yìjǐnghuátíng)
• 遙遙華胄 / 遥遥华胄
• 郭華情罪 / 郭华情罪
• 重華 / 重华
• 重華宮 / 重华宫
• 金色年華 / 金色年华
• 金華 / 金华 (Jīnhuá)
• 金華殿語 / 金华殿语
• 鉛華 / 铅华 (qiānhuá)
• 錦瑟華年 / 锦瑟华年
• 雍容華貴 / 雍容华贵
• 雲華 / 云华
• 露華 / 露华 (lùhuá)
• 章華 / 章华
• 韶華 / 韶华 (sháohuá)
• 韶華如駛 / 韶华如驶
• 風華 / 风华 (fēnghuá)
• 風華正茂 / 风华正茂 (fēnghuázhèngmào)
• 風華絕代 / 风华绝代
• 黛綠年華 / 黛绿年华
• 黜華 / 黜华
• 龍華山 / 龙华山 (Lónghuáshān)
• 龍華會 / 龙华会

 

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (華):

• → Japanese: 華(か) (ka)
• → Korean: 화(華) (hwa)
• → Vietnamese: hoa (華)

Pronunciation 2

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): huā (hua¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄏㄨㄚ

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): faa¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): va¹

• Eastern Min (BUC): huă
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): hoa

  (Teochew, Peng'im): huê¹

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ¹ho

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: huā
    • Zhuyin: ㄏㄨㄚ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: hua
    • Wade–Giles: hua¹
    • Yale: hwā
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: hua
    • Palladius: хуа (xua)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xu̯ä⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: faa¹
    • Yale: fā
    • Cantonese Pinyin: faa¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: fa¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /faː⁵⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: va¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /va³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: huă
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hua⁵⁵/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hoa
    • Tâi-lô: hua
    • Phofsit Daibuun: hoaf
    • IPA (Xiamen): /hua⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /hua³³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /hua⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Taipei): /hua⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /hua⁴⁴/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: huê¹
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: hue
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hue³³/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹ho
    • MiniDict: ho^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹ho
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ho⁵³/

---

• Middle Chinese: xwae

Rime
Character	華
Reading #	2/3
Initial (聲)	曉 (32)
Final (韻)	麻 (99)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	II
Fanqie	呼瓜切
Baxter	xwae
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/hˠua/
Pan Wuyun	/hʷᵚa/
Shao Rongfen	/xua/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/hwaɨ/
Li Rong	/xua/
Wang Li	/xwa/
Bernhard Karlgren	/xwa/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	huā
Expected Cantonese Reflex	faa1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*qʷʰˤra/

  (Zhengzhang): /*qʰʷraː/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	華
Reading #	1/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	huā
Middle Chinese	‹ xwæ ›
Old Chinese	/*qʷʰˁra/
English	flower (n.)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	華
Reading #	1/3
No.	5308
Phonetic component	華
Rime group	魚
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	華
Old Chinese	/*qʰʷraː/

Definitions

華

1. Alternative form of 花 (huā, “flower; blossom”)

   • 皇皇者華，于彼原隰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     皇皇者华，于彼原隰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Huánghuáng zhě huá, yú bǐ yuán xí. [Pinyin]

     Brilliant are the flowers,
     On those level heights and the low grounds.

2. to flower; to blossom

   • 昔我往矣，黍稷方華。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     昔我往矣，黍稷方华。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Xī wǒ wǎng yǐ, shǔjì fāng huā. [Pinyin]

     When we were marching at first,
     The millets were in flower.

   • 桐始華，田鼠化為鴽，虹始見，萍始生。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     桐始华，田鼠化为𫛪，虹始见，萍始生。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

     Tóng shǐ huā, tiánshǔ huàwéi rú, hóng shǐ xiàn, píng shǐ shēng. [Pinyin]

     The Elaeococca begins to flower. Moles are transformed into quails. Rainbows begin to appear. Duckweed begins to grow.

3. (traditional Chinese medicine) flower pulse; weak pulse
4. to be dim-sighted; to be dazzled
5. to dissect; to cut up

Compounds

• 九華 / 九华
• 優曇華 / 优昙华
• 寒木春華 / 寒木春华
• 春華 / 春华
• 春華秋實 / 春华秋实
• 枯楊生華 / 枯杨生华
• 枯樹生華 / 枯树生华
• 棣華 / 棣华
• 法華三昧 / 法华三昧
• 法華器 / 法华器
• 法華宗 / 法华宗
• 法華文句 / 法华文句
• 法華玄義 / 法华玄义
• 法華經 / 法华经
• 狂華 / 狂华
• 瑤華 / 瑶华
• 皇皇者華 / 皇皇者华
• 繁華損枝 / 繁华损枝
• 舜華 / 舜华
• 華池 / 华池 (Huáchí)
• 華萼 / 华萼
• 華鄂 / 华鄂
• 蓮華衣 / 莲华衣
• 襛華 / 𰳺华
• 賁華 / 贲华
• 銜華佩實 / 衔华佩实

 

Pronunciation 3

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): huà (hua⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄏㄨㄚˋ

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): waa⁶

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): va⁵

• Eastern Min (BUC): huá
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): hòa

  (Teochew, Peng'im): hua⁵

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: huà
    • Zhuyin: ㄏㄨㄚˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: huà
    • Wade–Giles: hua⁴
    • Yale: hwà
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: huah
    • Palladius: хуа (xua)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xu̯ä⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: waa⁶
    • Yale: wah
    • Cantonese Pinyin: waa⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: wa⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /waː²²/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: va⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /va³²/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: huá
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /huɑ²¹³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hòa
    • Tâi-lô: huà
    • Phofsit Daibuun: hoax
    • IPA (Xiamen): /hua²¹/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /hua⁴¹/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /hua²¹/
    • IPA (Taipei): /hua¹¹/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /hua²¹/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: hua⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: huâ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hua⁵⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: hwaeH

Rime
Character	華
Reading #	3/3
Initial (聲)	匣 (33)
Final (韻)	麻 (99)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	II
Fanqie	胡化切
Baxter	hwaeH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦˠuaH/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦʷᵚaH/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣuaH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦwaɨH/
Li Rong	/ɣuaH/
Wang Li	/ɣwaH/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ɣwaH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	huà
Expected Cantonese Reflex	waa6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[ɢ]ʷˤra-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ɡʷraːs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	華
Reading #	3/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	huà
Middle Chinese	‹ hwæH ›
Old Chinese	/*[ɢ]ʷˁra-s/
English	[name of a mountain]
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	華
Reading #	3/3
No.	5316
Phonetic component	華
Rime group	魚
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	摦
Old Chinese	/*ɡʷraːs/
Notes	華山、同崋

Definitions

華

1. (～山) Mount Hua (a mountain in Shaanxi)
2. Original form of 樺／桦 (huà, “birch”).
3. a surname

   華羅庚／华罗庚  ―  Huà Luógēng  ―  Hua Luogeng (mathematician)

   華佗／华佗  ―  Huà Tuó  ―  Hua Tuo (Han Dynasty physician)

Compounds

• 太華山 / 太华山
• 華亭鶴唳 / 华亭鹤唳
• 華佗再世 / 华佗再世
• 華家河 / 华家河 (Huàjiāhé)
• 華封三祝 / 华封三祝
• 華山 / 华山 (Huà Shān)
• 華山碑 / 华山碑
• 華岳 / 华岳
• 華嶽 / 华岳
• 華祝三多 / 华祝三多
• 華陰 / 华阴 (Huàyīn, “Huayin”)

 

References

• “華”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[2], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Shinjitai	華
Kyūjitai	華󠄂 華+󠄂? (Hanyo-Denshi) (Moji_Joho)
	華󠄃 華+󠄃? (Hanyo-Denshi) (Moji_Joho)
The displayed kanji may be different from the image due to your environment. See here for details.

Kanji

華

(Jōyō kanji)

1. flower
2. flashiness
3. brilliance, shine
4. beauty, splendor
5. fine, white powder
6. China, Chinese
7. sixty-one-year-old; kanreki

Readings

From Middle Chinese 華 (MC xwae); compare Mandarin 華 / 华 (huā):

• Go-on: け (ke, Jōyō ^†)^{←け (ke, historical)←くゑ (kwe, ancient)}
• Kan-on: か (ka, Jōyō)^{←くわ (kwa, historical)}

From Middle Chinese 華 (MC hwae); compare Mandarin 華 / 华 (huá):

• Go-on: げ (ge)^{←げ (ge, historical)←ぐゑ (gwe, ancient)}
• Kan-on: か (ka, Jōyō)^{←くわ (kwa, historical)}

From Middle Chinese 華 (MC hwaeH); compare Mandarin 華 / 华 (huà):

• Go-on: げ (ge)^{←げ (ge, historical)←ぐゑ (gwe, ancient)}
• Kan-on: か (ka, Jōyō)^{←くわ (kwa, historical)}

From native Japanese roots:

• Kun: はな (hana, 華, Jōyō)、はなさく (hanasaku, 華さく)、はなやか (hanayaka, 華やか)
• Nanori: あき (aki)、てる (teru)、は (ha)、はな (hana)、はる (haru)

Compounds

Compounds

• 華夷(かい) (Kai)
• 華僑(かきょう) (Kakyō)
• 華語(かご) (Kago)
• 華甲(かこう) (kakō)
• 華字(かじ) (kaji)
• 華奢(かしゃ) (kasha), 華奢(きゃしゃ) (kyasha)
• 華(か)燭(しょく) (kashoku, “bright light”)
• 華人(かじん) (Kajin)
• 華族(かぞく) (kazoku)
• 華道(かどう) (kadō)
• 華美(かび) (kabi)
• 華府(かふ) (Kafu)
• 華麗(かれい) (karei)
• 華盛頓(ワシントン) (Washinton)
• 優曇華(うどんげ) (udonge) : udumbara
• 栄華(えいが) (eiga)
• 豪華(ごうか) (gōka)
• 香華(こうげ) (kōge)
• 国華(こっか) (kokka)
• 散華(さんげ) (sange) : (Buddhism) rite of scattering flowers
• 精華(せいか) (seika)
• 中華(ちゅうか) (Chūka)
• 日華(にっか) (nikka)
• 繁華(はんか) (hanka)
• 浮華(ふか) (fuka)
• 法華(ほっけ) (Hokke), 法華(ほけ) (Hoke)
• 万華鏡(まんげきょう) (mangekyō)
• 由華(ゆか) (Yuka) : a female given name
• 蓮華(れんげ) (renge)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
華
か Grade: S
kan'on

/kua/ → /kʷa/ → /ka/

From Middle Chinese 華 (MC hwae).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) か [káꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠]

• Some dictionaries apparently classify this reading as either goon or kan'yōon.

Noun

華(か) • (ka) ^{←くわ (kwa)?}

1. flashiness, showiness

   Synonym: 虚飾 (kyoshoku)

Idioms

• 華(か)を去(さ)り実(じつ)に就(つ)く (ka o sari jitsu ni tsuku)

Proper noun

華(か) • (Ka) ^{←くわ (Kwa)?}

1. a surname
2. a male or female given name

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
華
はな Grade: S
kun'yomi

/pana/ → /fana/ → /hana/

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *pana.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) はな [hànáꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [ha̠na̠]

For pronunciation and definitions of 華 – see the following entry.

【花はな】1 [noun] a flower [noun] Short for 生け花 (ikebana): flower arrangement [noun] Short for 花札 (hanafuda): Japanese playing cards [noun] the best days of one's life [noun] the best thing [noun] essence

(This term, 華, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 華華(はなばな) (hanabana), 華々(はなばな) (hanabana)
• 華(はな)めく (hanameku)
• 華(はな)やか (hanayaka)
• 華(はな)やぐ (hanayagu)
• 華岡(はなおか) (Hanaoka)
• 議会(ぎかい)の華(はな) (gikai no hana)
• 国(くに)の華(はな) (kuni no hana)
• 波(なみ)の華(はな) (nami no hana)
• 水(みず)の華(はな) (mizu no hana)
• 湯(ゆ)の華(はな) (yu no hana)

Idiom

• 火事(かじ)と喧嘩(けんか)は江戸(えど)の華(はな) (kaji to kenka wa Edo no hana)

Proverb

1. 枯木(こぼく)華(はな)開(ひら)く (koboku hana hiraku)

Proper noun

華(はな) • (Hana) 

1. a female given name
2. a surname

Korean

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɸwa̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [화]

Hanja

Wikisource

華 • (hwa) (hangeul 화)

1. bright; colorful

Vietnamese

Han character

華: Hán Việt readings: hoa (戶(hộ)花(hoa)切(thiết))
華: Nôm readings: hoa

1. chữ Hán form of Hoa (“Hoa people”).

Compounds

• 華夏 (hoa hạ)