Character Familiestop / bottom

草cǎo

grass (青草, 草原); careless; rough (草率); a draft; rough (草稿, 草拟); cursive script (草书)

草 is grass — and drafts, careless work, and cursive writing.

GF0025–2021 character list · 二级
One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.

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ZDIC: 形声; the grass top carries the meaning, 早 the sound.

top / bottom · 草

WHOLE CHARACTER

草cǎo

grass (青草, 草原); careless; rough (草率); a draft; rough (草稿, 草拟); cursive script (草书)

草 is grass — and drafts, careless work, and cursive writing.

ZDIC: 形声; the grass top carries the meaning, 早 the sound.

MEANING (THE GRASS TOP)

艹cǎo

plants; grass (from 草)

Plant-related meaning clue.

In 草: meaning (the grass top) Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.

SOUND

早zǎo

early; morning

A standalone character; its sound side role in 草 shares the final ao and tone 3; the initial differs (z/c).

In 草: sound Sound side per ZDIC: zǎo shares 草's final ao and tone 3; the initial differs (z/c).

cǎoTone 3
  • grass (青草, 草原)
  • careless; rough (草率)
  • a draft; rough (草稿, 草拟)
  • cursive script (草书)
  • 草地cǎodìlawn; grassland
  • 草稿cǎogǎodraft; sketch

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