莸 (yóu) - Caryopteris — a type of flowering plant in & also used to refer to weeds or undesirable

莸Tone 2

yóu ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

咏与

莸 · yóu

Caryopteris — a type of flowering plant in the mint family;

also used to refer to weeds or undesirable plants in classical texts.

Caryopteris — a type of flowering plant inalso used to refer to weeds or undesirable

Usage highlights

Caryopteris plantFragrant caryopterisWeeds and caryopterisBluebeard shrubCaryopteris incanaMedicinal caryopteris

Synonyms

  • 兰莸— orchid and caryopteris (contrasting pair)
  • 杂草— weed

Antonyms

  • 薰— fragrant orchid (symbol of goodness)
  • 兰— orchid (elegant plant)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bluebeard plant (莸) is known for its fragrant leaves.
  • In the garden, we removed the weeds (莸) to make room for flowers.
  • This herbal text mentions caryopteris (莸) as a medicinal plant.
  • The field was overgrown with caryopteris (莸).

Collocations

  • Caryopteris plant(莸)
  • Fragrant caryopteris(香莸)
  • Weeds and caryopteris(莸草)
  • Bluebeard shrub(蓝花莸)
  • Caryopteris incana(灰毛莸)
  • Medicinal caryopteris(药用莸)

Idioms

  • One fragrant orchid, one stinking caryopteris(一薰一莸)
  • As different as orchid and caryopteris(薰莸异器)
  • Fragrant and foul cannot share the same vessel(薰莸不同器)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese, 莸 often appears in contrast to 薰 (fragrant orchid) to symbolize the opposition of good and evil, beauty and vulgarity.
  • The plant itself, Caryopteris, is native to East Asia and is sometimes used in traditional gardens for its blue flowers.
  • In literary contexts, 莸 can carry a negative connotation, representing something undesirable or weedy.

FAQ