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Kotomora

蘭

orchid, Holland

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes19

Readings

On'yomi

  • ラン
  • ラ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • か
  • あららぎ

Meaning

蘭 centers on the orchid flower. The meaning 'Holland' is a specific application from the orchid's use as a symbol or abbreviation for the Netherlands.

Most common words using 蘭

20 of 90
  • 蘭らん

    orchid

  • 鈴蘭すずらん

    lily of the valley (Convallaria keiskei)

  • 蘭学らんがく

    rangaku; study of Western knowledge through the Dutch language during the Edo period

  • 葉蘭はらん

    cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)

  • 蘭あららぎ

    Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata)

  • 竜舌蘭りゅうぜつらん

    agave; maguey

  • 一葉蘭いちようらん

    Dactylostalix ringens (species of orchid); rigid Dactylostalix

  • 伊蘭いらん

    castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)

  • 依蘭苔えいらんたい

    Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica); Iceland lichen

  • 千寿蘭せんじゅらん

    variegated Spanish violet; Yucca Aloifolia

  • 千里金蘭大学せんりきんらんだいがく

    Senri Kinran University

  • 名護蘭なごらん

    Phalaenopsis japonica (species of orchid)

  • 君が代蘭きみがよらん

    curve-leaf yucca (Yucca recurvifolia)

  • 君子蘭くんしらん

    clivia (esp. drooping clivia, Clivia nobilis); Kaffir lily (Clivia miniata)

  • 和蘭芥子おらんだがらし

    watercress (Nasturtium officinale)

  • 姫薮蘭ひめやぶらん

    Liriope minor (flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family)

  • 室蘭地方気象台むろらんちほうきしょうだい

    Muroran Local Meteorological Observatory

  • 室蘭工業大学むろらんこうぎょうだいがく

    Muroran Institute of Technology

  • 小一葉蘭こいちようらん

    Ephippianthus schmidtii (species of orchid)

  • 小蕙蘭こけいらん

    Oreorchis patens (species of orchid)

Explore all words using 蘭 →

Study

Etymology

蘭 combines 艹 (plant) with 闌, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a fragrant plant, the orchid.

Meaning mnemonic

The plant radical 艹 sits above 闌, which looks like a gate with a tree inside. Imagine a rare orchid growing by a garden gate.

Reading mnemonic

For ラン, picture a runner carrying an orchid: run -> ラン, and the orchid is held carefully.