noun
Refers to the orchid flower or plant. Often written in katakana in botanical or decorative contexts.
母の日に蘭を贈った。
I gave an orchid for Mother's Day.
noun
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: 阿蘭陀 (オランダ)
「蘭」はオランダの略称として、蘭学や日蘭関係などの語で使われる。
The character 蘭 is used as an abbreviation for the Netherlands in words like 蘭学 (Dutch learning) and 日蘭 (Japan-Netherlands relations).
The standard modern word for the Netherlands. 蘭 is an abbreviation used in compounds.
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.