noun HSK 4
huā cǎo
flowers and plants · flora · vegetation

Meaning

花草 is a collective noun referring to flowers and grasses, or more broadly to ornamental plants and vegetation. It's commonly used when talking about gardening, plant care, or decorative greenery in homes and gardens.

Usage

This word is frequently used in everyday conversation about gardening, home decoration, and nature. It has a gentle, aesthetic connotation and often appears in contexts involving plant care, outdoor spaces, or bringing nature indoors. Native speakers use it naturally when discussing hobbies, home environments, or parks.

Examples

  1. 01
    她喜欢在阳台上养花草
    xǐhuan zài yángtái shàng yǎng huā cǎo.
    She likes to grow flowers and plants on the balcony.
  2. 02
    公园里的花草都修剪得很整齐。
    Gōngyuán de huā cǎo dōu xiūjiǎn de hěn zhěngqí.
    The flowers and plants in the park are all trimmed very neatly.

Characters

Measure words

  • pén一盆花草
  • zhǒng各种花草

Common collocations

  • 花草
    yǎng huā cǎo
    to grow/raise flowers and plants
  • 花草
    zhòng huā cǎo
    to plant flowers and plants
  • 花草市场
    huā cǎo shì chǎng
    flower and plant market
  • 爱好花草
    ài hào huā cǎo
    to be fond of plants and flowers

Origin

A simple compound combining 花 (flower) and 草 (grass/plant), representing the most basic categories of vegetation.

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