茑 (niǎo) - Oriental bittersweet vine & a type of climbing plant

茑Tone 3

niǎo ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 艹

念柠

茑 · niǎo

Oriental bittersweet vine;

a type of climbing plant;

used in botanical names and classical literature.

Oriental bittersweet vinea type of climbing plantused in botanical names and classical literature.

Usage highlights

Oriental bittersweetTwining vineBittersweet familyClimbing plantParasitic plant

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 乔木— tall tree (independent vs. clinging)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The oriental bittersweet vine (茑萝) is a climbing plant.
  • It twines around trees like a creeper (茑附).
  • In classical poetry, it symbolizes dependence or attachment.

Collocations

  • Oriental bittersweet(茑萝)
  • Twining vine(茑附)
  • Bittersweet family(茑属)
  • Climbing plant(茑蔓)
  • Parasitic plant(茑寄生)

Idioms

  • Like the vine clinging to the tree(茑附)
  • The bittersweet and the pine(茑与松)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese literature, 茑 often symbolizes dependence or close attachment, as the vine clings to trees.
  • The plant appears in botanical contexts and traditional medicine.
  • It's sometimes used metaphorically in poetry to describe relationships of reliance.

FAQ