荃 (quán) - Aromatic herb & fragrant plant

荃Tone 2

quán ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 艹

情仁

荃 · quán

Aromatic herb;

fragrant plant;

ancient term for a type of incense;

metaphor for a virtuous ruler or worthy minister.

Aromatic herbfragrant plantancient term for a type of incense

Usage highlights

Fragrant herbVirtue like quanQuan orchidQuan aromaAncient incenseQuan metaphor

Synonyms

  • 香草— fragrant grass/herb
  • 芳草— fragrant plant
  • 蕙— another type of fragrant orchid

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient text mentions a fragrant herb called quan (荃).
  • In poetry, quan often symbolizes virtue (德如荃).
  • The emperor was compared to a fragrant quan (君王如荃).
  • This plant has a delicate aroma (荃的香气).

Collocations

  • Fragrant herb(香荃)
  • Virtue like quan(德荃)
  • Quan orchid(荃兰)
  • Quan aroma(荃香)
  • Ancient incense(古荃)
  • Quan metaphor(荃喻)

Idioms

  • Virtue like fragrant herbs(德如荃蕙)
  • The ruler's virtue spreads fragrance(君德荃芳)
  • Worthy ministers are like fragrant plants(贤臣若荃)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese literature, 'quan' referred to a specific aromatic plant used in rituals and incense.
  • The character was often used metaphorically to represent virtuous rulers and worthy ministers in classical texts.
  • It appears in poetic contexts as a symbol of purity and moral fragrance.

FAQ