蔦 (niǎo) - Dodder — a parasitic climbing plant of the & also refers to ivy or other climbing vines

蔦Tone 3

niǎo ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

念柠

蔦 · niǎo

Dodder — a parasitic climbing plant of the genus Cuscuta;

also refers to ivy or other climbing vines in literary contexts.

Dodder — a parasitic climbing plant of thealso refers to ivy or other climbing vines

Usage highlights

Dodder plantDodder and wisteriaClimbing vineParasitic plantDodder attaching to pineWithering dodder

Synonyms

  • 菟丝— dodder (alternative name)
  • 寄生— parasitic plant

Antonyms

  • 松— pine tree (symbol of independence)
  • 自立— self-reliance

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dodder plant twines around other vegetation (蔦萝).
  • Ancient poets used 'dodder and wisteria' metaphorically (蔦与女萝).
  • The vine clings to the old pine (蔦附古松).

Collocations

  • Dodder plant(蔦萝)
  • Dodder and wisteria(蔦与女萝)
  • Climbing vine(蔦蔓)
  • Parasitic plant(寄生蔦)
  • Dodder attaching to pine(蔦附松柏)
  • Withering dodder(枯蔦)

Idioms

  • Dodder attached to hemp(蔦附麻中)
  • Dodder and wisteria entwined(蔦萝相依)
  • Like dodder relying on a tall tree(如蔦依乔)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese literature, dodder symbolizes dependence and close relationships, often used to describe women relying on men.
  • The plant appears in the Book of Songs (诗经) as a metaphor for marital bonds and familial connections.
  • In Japanese culture, the character is used in names and place names, representing natural beauty and elegance.

FAQ