湘妃竹 xiāng fēi zhú

mottled bamboo; legendary tear-stained bamboo

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. same as 斑竹bān zhú, mottled bamboo, since according to legend the spots on mottled bamboo are marks left by the tears shed by two of King Shun's 舜shùn concubines (Ehuang 娥皇[E2 huanɡ2] and Nüying 女英[Nü3 yinɡ1], known as the Concubines of the Xiang 湘妃xiāng fēi) upon learning of his death

Characters

Character Meaning
湘 xiāng
abbr. for Hunan 湖南hú nán province in south central China
妃 fēi
imperial concubine
竹 zhú HSK 5
bamboo; Kangxi radical 118