Refers to the orchid flower or plant. Often written in katakana in botanical or decorative contexts.
I gave an orchid for Mother's Day.
My grandmother grows orchids in her garden.
Abbreviation of 阿蘭陀 (オランダ). Used mainly in compounds such as 蘭学 (Dutch learning) or 日蘭 (Japan-Netherlands). Rare as a standalone word for the country.
See also: オランダ
The character 蘭 is used as an abbreviation for the Netherlands in words like 蘭学 (Dutch learning) and 日蘭 (Japan-Netherlands relations).
A rare orchid bloomed in the greenhouse.
欄 (also read らん) means a column or railing, while 蘭 refers to the orchid flower or is an abbreviation for the Netherlands; the kanji look similar but are unrelated in meaning.
ラン (a run, from English) and 蘭 (らん, orchid) are pronounced identically but have completely unrelated meanings.
乱 (revolt, war) and 蘭 (orchid) are pronounced identically as らん but are completely unrelated in meaning and written with different kanji.
book; volume; script · this; present; current; in question · main; head; principal · real; genuine; regular; proper · counter for long cylindrical objects; counter for films, TV shows, etc.; counter for goals, home runs, etc.; counter for telephone calls
lily of the valley
cast iron plant; Aspidistra elatior · baran; green plastic garnish
agave; maguey · century plant; American aloe
rangaku; Dutch learning
castor oil plant
noble orchid; Cymbidium goeringii
fireweed; rosebay willowherb
Japanese stream orchid
Eleorchis japonica (species of orchid)
Standard kanji spelling for orchid and the abbreviation for the Netherlands.
Katakana spelling is common in botanical contexts and when referring to the Netherlands in abbreviations.
The kanji 蘭 originally refers to the orchid plant. Its use for the Netherlands comes from the ateji 阿蘭陀 (オランダ), where 蘭 was taken as the abbreviation.
Western orchid; tropical orchid
Linaria japonica; Japanese toadflax
Yucca smalliana; Adam's needle
Bletilla striata; purple orchid