藟 (lěi) - lei3 — refers to vine plants, especially grapevines & coiled or entwined vegetation

藟Tone 3

lěi ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

藟 · lěi

lei3 — refers to vine plants, especially grapevines;

coiled or entwined vegetation;

by extension, something that is entangled or intertwined.

lei3 — refers to vine plants, especially grapevinescoiled or entwined vegetationby extension, something that is entangled or intertwined.

Usage highlights

grapevinevine tendrilsentwined vegetationcoiled plantancient vine plant

Synonyms

  • 藤— vine, rattan
  • 蔓— tendril, creeper
  • 葛— kudzu vine

Antonyms

  • 树— tree (standing upright vs. climbing)
  • 直— straight (vs. coiled/entwined)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The grapevine (葛藟) grows along the fence.
  • Ancient texts mention coiled vines (藟藤).
  • The plant's tendrils are entwined (缠绕如藟).

Collocations

  • grapevine(葛藟)
  • vine tendrils(藟藤)
  • entwined vegetation(缠绕之藟)
  • coiled plant(藟蔓)
  • ancient vine plant(古藟)

Idioms

  • Entwined like vines(如葛如藟)
  • The grapevine's entanglement(葛藟之萦)
  • Vines clinging to trees(藟附乔木)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical Chinese texts like the Book of Songs (诗经) as a metaphor for dependence or entanglement.
  • In traditional botany, 藟 referred specifically to wild grapevines or similar climbing plants.
  • Sometimes used poetically to describe relationships of reliance or intricate connections.

FAQ