grinding utensil, grinding stone, whetstone

研 磨 器 yan2mo2qi4

CeCelia

xu, food container

盨 xu3

Lynn

portrait; to portray

画 像 hua4xiang4

Lynn

gold coin

金 币 jin1bi2

Sarah GChelsea

Hakka (ethnic group of south China)

客 家 Ke4jia1

food, cereals, grains

粮 食 liang2shi4

Lynn

grave guardian beast (ancient)

镇 墓 兽 zhen4mu4shou4

Travis

porcelain pillow (ancient)

瓷 枕 ci2 zhen3

Travis

ivory counting sticks

象 牙 算 筹 xiang4ya2 suan4chou2

Travis

green glazed pottery pig pen (funerary object)

绿 釉 陶 猪 圈 lu~4you4 tao2 zhu1juan4

Travis

weighing apparatus

衡 器 heng2qi4

Sarah GChelsea

wine drinking vessel, wine drinking utensil

饮 酒 器 yin3jiu3 qi4

Lynn

zun, wine vessel with a wide opening and flat bottom, (early Shang to modern)

尊 zun1

Travis

wooden or pottery funerary object, wooden or pottery object buried with the dead

俑 yong3

Lynn

reconstruction, restoration, model; to restore, to recover

复 原 fu4yuan2

Travis

ling, wide bodied jar

棂 ling2

Sarah GChelsea

ogre mask decorated ding

饕 餮 纹 鼎 tao1tie4 wen2 ding3

CeCelia

divining bone

占 卜 骨 zhan1bu3 gu3

Travis

flags, ceremonial weaponry, weapons carried by a guard of honor, insignia carried before the emperor

仪 仗 yi2zhang4

Travis

to process; processing

加 工 jia1gong1

Lynn

snake head decoration

蛇 首 纹 she2shou3 wen2

CeCelia

pottery li, pottery cauldron, pottery caldron

陶 鬲 tao2 li4

CeCelia

to divine

占 卜 zhan1bu3

Travis

figure of a man carrying a shield (funerary object)

抱 盾 男 俑 bao4 dun4 nan2 yong3

Lynn

beizhu, ancient coin container

貝 貯 bei4zhu4

Sarah GChelsea

cross bow

弩 nu3

pottery jar with a folded belly

折 腹 罐 zhe2 fu4 guan4

CeCelia

one-legged monster decorated ding

夔 纹 鼎 kui2 wen2 ding3

CeCelia

coiled hornless dragons (often used in decoration in ancient times)

蟠 螭 pan2 chi1

Sarah GChelsea

to kowtow, to kneel and worship

跪 拜 gui4bai4

Travis

pottery granary

陶 匡 tao2 jun1

Sarah GChelsea

you, wine container (has a handle and a lid, commonly tall, but can be fat and round, from early Shang on)

卣 you3

Travis

to model a figure in clay, to sculpt in clay

塑 su4

CeCelia

cowrie shell money

贝 币 bei4bi4

Lynn

geometric patterned brick

几 何 纹 方 砖 ji3he2 wen2 fang1 zhuan1

Sarah GChelsea

double-handled cup, two eared cup

双 耳 杯 shuang1 er3 bei1

Travis

gold wuzhu coin (ancient)

金 五 铢 jin1 wu3zhu1

Lynn

double-ring decorated eaves tile

重 环 纹 瓦 当 chong2huan2 wen2 wa3dang1

Lynn

brown glaze

酱 釉 jiang4 you4

Travis

bronze (actually qing1tong2 is bronze, but tong2 is used if it is clear it is bronze)

铜 tong2

Travis

bronze and stone weights

铜 石 权 tong2 shi2 quan2

Sarah GChelsea

Xiongnu, nomadic people (ancient - 3rd century BC ~ 460 AD)

匈 奴 Xiong1nu2

Travis

This jade artifact is dated to the Neolithic Period. It was found when the factory was built.

这 个 玉 器 可 以 追 溯 到 新 石 器 时 代 。 建 厂 时 找 到 的 。 Zhe4 ge4 yu4qi4 ke3yi3 zhui1su4 dao4 Xin1shi2qi4 Shi2dai4. Jian4 chang3 shi2 zhao3dao4 de.

pottery kiln

陶 窑 tao2yao2

Lynn

water dragon decorated jue

菱 龙 纹 爵 ling2long2 wen2 jue2

CeCelia

to grind, to mill, to abrade; whetstone, grindstone

研 磨 yan2mo2

CeCelia

brick kiln

砖 窑 场 zhuan1yao2chang3

CeCelia

to level off, to root up, to shovel, to remove; spade, shovel

铲 chan3

CeCelia

three-legged bowl (usually clay)

三 足 钵 san1 zu2 bo1

CeCelia

iron plowshare, iron spade (ancient)

铁 铧 tie3 hua2

Travis

intellectual, scholar, student (archaic)

书 生 shu1sheng1

yi, wine vessel (ancient)

彝 yi2

Sarah GChelsea

jasper bi, irregularly shaped round bi

玉 璇 玑 yu4xuan2ji1

Lynn

incense burner table

香 案 xiang1'an4

Lynn

Zhengjiapo

郑 家 坡 Zheng4jia1po1

Lynn

ying, ancient water container

蓥 ying2

Lynn

tiger tally

虎 符 hu3fu2

Sarah GChelsea

frog decorated battle-axe

蛙 纹 钺 wa1 wen2 yue4

Travis

ornament

装 饰 品 zhuang1shi4pin3

Lynn

to play (wind instruments, horns, flutes, pipes)

吹 奏 chui1zou4

Travis

handle, shaft, stem

柄 bing3

CeCelia

phoenix pillar jia, jia with phoenix birds on the ears or knobs

凤 柱 啃 feng4 zhu4 jia1

Travis

crossbow mechanism

弩 机 nu3ji1

Travis

to hang down, to droop, to dangle, to bend down, to approach, to hand down, to bequeath; nearly. almost,

垂 chui2

CeCelia

distant past, ancient times, early historical times

上 古 shang4gu3

arrow tower

箭 楼 jian4lou2

lei, wine storage vessel (ancient)

揽 lei2

Sarah GChelsea

fou, squared storage vessel (ancient)

缶 fou3

Sarah GChelsea

battle axe (ancient)

戚 縋 qi1yang2

Travis

jian, a water basin (ancient)

鑒 jian4

Sarah GChelsea

to succeed the throne; succession

即 位 ji2wei4

CeCelia

ogre mask and hanging leaf decorated pot

饕 餮 垂 叶 纹 壶 tao1tie4 chui2 ye4 wen2 hu2

CeCelia

mythical venomous snake or serpent

虺 hui3

Lynn

bu, covered round belly pot

瓿 bu4

Lynn

to cover, to top, to surpass, to seal; cover

盖 gai4

Jessie WangZhang MengLi ZhenCao Hui
FredApril

zu, sacrificial table

俎 zu3

Lynn

gui (three-legged wine container with handle)

陶 鬹 tao2 gui1

CeCelia

official's bell (ancient)

师 丞 钟 shi2cheng2 zhong1

Lynn

mounted warrior (ancient)

骑 马 武 士 qi2ma3 wu3shi4

Travis

brick kiln

砖 窑 zhuan1yao2

CeCelia

goat decorated zun, goat decorated wine vessel

羊 尊 yang2 zun1

Travis

pottery pitcher

陶 盉 tao2 he2

CeCelia

bronze belt ornament, bronze belt buckle

铜 带 饰 tong2 dai4shi4

Travis

openwork dou, ancient pedestal server with openwork design

镂 空 豆 lou4kong1 dou4

Lynn

coiled serpent decoration

蟠 虺 纹 pan2hui3 wen2

Lynn

yinhu, wine drinking vessel

饮 壶 ( 锟 控 ) yin3hu2

Sarah GChelsea

pottery ding, (pottery three-legged open mouthed vessel)

陶 鼎 tao2 ding3

CeCelia

bronze coin mold

钱 铜 范 qian2 tong2fan4

Lynn

Erlitou culture (centered near Luoyang and along Wei River, early Bronze Age around 2000 BC)

二 里 头 文 化 Er4li3tou wen2hua4

CeCelia

modern history

近 代 史 jin4dai4shi3

porcelain, chinaware

瓷 ci2

Travis

ring, link; to surround, to encircle

环 huan2

Shao DanniZhang NingZhang LiCao HuiShu Chang
KenJenniferJeremy

green glaze

绿 釉 lu~4you4

Travis

container to hold food, food container

盛 食 器 cheng2 shi4 qi4

CeCelia

li, cauldron, caldron

鬲 li4

CeCelia

point, tip, top; pointed, acute, high pitched, sharp

尖 jian1

Zhang MengZhang LiLi ZhenShu ChangSun Gang
ScribMal

jade artifact

玉 器 yu4qi4

jade bi, jade disk with a hole in the center (ancient ritual object)

璧 玉 bi4yu4

Travis

bone arrowhead

骨 镞 gu3 zu2

CeCelia

warrior, samurai (ancient)

武 士 wu3shi4

Travis

Kui design

夔 龙 纹 Kui2 long2 wen2

Lynn

imperial seal, ruler's seal

玺 xi3

Lynn

building material

建 筑 材 料 jian4zhu4cai2 liao4

Lynn

civil official (ancient)

文 官 wen2guan1

Travis

jour-joked points, puncture weapon

铁 蒺 藜 tie3 ji2li2

Travis

ivory

象 牙 xiang4ya2

Travis

account book, ledger

账 簿 zhang4bu4

Travis

gu, goblet, wine vessel

觚 gu1

Lynn

yan, pot and stand

甗 yan3

Lynn

line, mark, stripe, decoration; decorated with

纹 wen2

CeCelia

bronze cup

铜 杯 tong2 bei1

Travis

slender-necked flask, slender-necked pot

细 颈 壶 xi4 jing3 hu2

CeCelia

large roof tile with exterior double pins

外 双 钉 大 钣 瓦 wai4 shuang1 ding1 da4 ban3wa3

Lynn

Paleolithic Era

旧 石 器 时 代 Jiu4shi2qi4 Shi2dai4

Travis

Mingtang Piyong Imperial Ancestral Temple and University

明 堂 辟 雍 Ming2tang2 Bi4yong1

Chelsea

Lintong County (district of Xi'an)

临 潼 县 Lin2tong2 Xian4

CeCelia

wine sack, wine skin (an ancient type of soft container for wine)

囊 壶 nang2hu2

CeCelia

to pierce, to perforate, to bore through, to thread, to pass through

穿 chuan1

dipper, spoon

勺 shao2

CeCelia

reproduction, copy, replica

复 制 品 fu4zhi4pin3

Lynn

currency, money

货 币 huo4bi4

Huang XuZhao HeZhang MengZhao Mo
AprilJamesBrian

weaponry, weapon, arms, military instrument

兵 器 bing1qi4

Travis

handleless cup (ancient)

锺 zhong1

Lynn

jue, wine vessel with three legs

角 jue2

Lynn

drum shaped vessel (usually Neolithic)

鼓 形 器 gu3 xing2 qi4

CeCelia

oracle script, shell and bone writing

甲 骨 文 jia3gu3wen2

bronze arrowhead

铜 镞 tong2 zu2

Lynn

kui, (one-legged monster who invented music and dancing - rain god)

夔 kui2

CeCelia

seal

印 yin4

Travis

wine vessel

酒 器 jiu3 qi4

CeCelia

yu, basin, wide mouth jar

盂 yu2

Lynn

jue, wine vessel

爵 jue2

CeCelia

to uncover, to excavate

折 除 zhe2chu2

iron weight

铁 权 tie3 quan2

Sarah GChelsea

bronze mirror

铜 镜 tong2 jing4

Sarah GChelsea

Ox-Head

牛 头 Niu2 Tou2

Lynn

cooking vessel

炊 器 chui1qi4

CeCelia

brick kiln

窑 场 yao2chang3

CeCelia

sluice, gate, circuit breaker, lock (waterway)

闸 zha4

geometric design colored pottery bowl

几 何 纹 彩 陶 钵 ji3he2 wen2 cai3 tao2 bo1

CeCelia

ritual object, ritual vessel, sacrificial dish

礼 器 li3qi4

CeCelia

ornaments on chariot shafts (ancient)

楘 mu4

Di, (northern ethnic groups during Qin and Han dynasties)

狄 Di4

amphora, bottle with a pointed bottom

尖 底 瓶 jian1 di3 ping2

CeCelia

temple, shrine, monastery (Buddhist)

刹 cha4

long necked jar

高 领 罐 gao1 ling3 guan4

CeCelia

Lantian man (1,150,000 years ago)

蓝 田 人 Lan2tian2 ren2

CeCelia

rammed earth, adobe, mud brick

版 筑 ban3zhu4

CeCelia

roof tile, roof plate

钣 瓦 ban3wa3

Lynn

Khitan, (people from Mongolia 700 ~ 1300)

契 丹 Qi4dan1

boat shaped jug

船 形 壶 chuan2 xing2 hu2

CeCelia

bone awl handle

骨 锥 柄 gu3 zhui1 bing3

CeCelia

moat, river outside the walls of a city

护 城 河 hu4cheng2he2

bronze door knocker plate (ancient)

铜 鋪 tong2 pu1

Lynn

Ox-Head clam shell decoration

牛 头 蚌 饰 Niu2 Tou2 bang4 shi4

Lynn

Hu (the Hu were foreigners from the Han point of view - they include many peoples with different traditions, during Shang found throughout China, later in the North and West)

胡 Hu2

Travis

jian, a water basin (ancient)

鑑 jian4

Sarah GChelsea

Jiangzhai (Neolithic village near Xi'an)

姜 寨 Jiang1zhai4

CeCelia

measure word for knives and blades

柄 bing3

CeCelia

mirror, reflection; to view, to reflect, to inspect; ancient bronze mirror

鉴 jian4

Sarah GChelsea

kneeling figure (funerary object)

跽 坐 陶 俑 ji4zuo4 tao2yong3

Sarah GChelsea

bone spade

骨 铲 gu3 chan3

CeCelia

dui, food container

敦 dui

Lynn

green glaze

青 釉 qing1 you4

Travis

cross bow

十 字 弓 shi2zi4 gong1

curved design, flourishes, curlicue

连 弧 lian2hu2

Sarah GChelsea

The Neolithic Era was between 10 thousand and 5 thousand years ago.

新 石 器 时 代 在 五 千 年 到 一 万 年 之 间 。 Xin1shi2qi4 shi2dai4 zai4 wu3qian1 nian2 dao4 yi1wan4 nian2 zhi1jian4.

Travis

pan, flat basin for washing hands (ancient)

盤 pan2

Sarah GChelsea

zhi, covered wine goblet (rounded cover, body can be round or flat, indented in the middle, late Shang to Spring and Autumn period)

觯 ( 觶 ) zhi4

Sarah GChelsea

clam, mussel, clam shell

蚌 bang4

Lynn

bronze seal

铜 印 tong2 yin4

Travis

village, town, countryside, rustic. provincial, hometown, native place; to face toward, ahead of, before

乡 xiang1

Travis

decoration, ornament; to decorate, to adorn, to conceal (a fault)

饰 shi4

Lynn

Neolithic Era

新 石 器 时 代 Xin1shi2qi4 Shi2dai4

Travis

ge, axe, ax

戈 ge1

CeCelia

pottery figure of a man's face

陶 人 面 像 tao2 ren2mian4 xiang4

Travis

paixiao, xiao, pan pipe

排 箫 pai2xiao1

Travis

bird lid gourd hu, bottle shaped like a gourd with a stopper shaped like a bird

鸟 盖 瓠 壶 niao3 gai4 hu4 hu2

Lynn

guan, carrying pot with handle (ancient)

罐 guan4

Sarah GChelsea

bronze ding (three-legged cauldron)

铜 鼎 tong2 ding3

Lynn

jasper, fine jade

琼 qiong2

Lynn

jade spade

玉 铲 yu4 chan3

CeCelia

stone engraving, engraved stone

石 雕 shi2diao1

CeCelia

Laoguantai Culture (between 7 and 8 thousand years ago - Neolithic)

老 官 台 文 化 Lao3guan1tai2 Wen2hua4

CeCelia

stone coin mold

钱 石 范 qian2 shi2fan4

Lynn

nebula, star and cloud (common ancient design)

星 云 xing1yun2

Lynn

Ban Liang coin, half liang coin (liang - about 50 grams)

半 两 钱 ban4liang3qian2

Sarah GChelsea

jade bi

玉 璧 yu4 bi4

CeCelia

shape, appearance, impression; to resemble, to look like, to look as if, to seem

像 xiang4

Zhang MengLiu JinzheZhu MengxiWang MeiMi ZhaoxiZhao He
FredMillieMikeApril

spiral, spirals, coil; to coil

蟠 pan2

Lynn

counting sticks

算 筹 suan4chou2

Travis

sheep-tiger

羊 虎 yang2hu3

Lynn

defensive enclosure around a gate, enceinte of a city gate, barbican entrance to a city

瓮 城 weng4cheng2

tally

符 fu2

Sarah GChelsea

fanggu, square goblet, wine vessel

方 觚 fang1gu1

Lynn

double six magic square steel plate (math puzzle)

幻 方 铁 板 huan4fang1 tie3ban3

Travis

Lijia (pre-dynastic Zhou era culture of the Wei River Valley)

刘 家 Li3jia1

Lynn

yi, footed water pourer (ancient)

縁 yi2

Sarah GChelsea

colored glaze, colored glass

琉 璃 liu2li2

Travis

gong, wine cup (ancient)

觥 gong1

Sarah G

pottery model of a man's head

陶 塑 人 头 像 tao2 su3 ren2tou xiang4

CeCelia

large roof tile with an interior single pin

内 单 钉 大 钣 瓦 nei4 dan1 ding1 da4 ban3wa3

Lynn

millstone, grindstone

石 磨 shi2mo4

Lynn

incense burner

香 炉 xiang1lu2

Travis

civil official, minor official (ancient)

文 吏 wen2li4

Travis

bronze chime bell

铜 编 钟 tong2 bian1zhong1

Lynn

wine holding item

盛 酒 品 cheng2 jiu3 pin3

CeCelia

cicada decorated ding, cicada decorated cooking pot

蝉 纹 鼎 chan2 wen2 ding3

Travis

long Hu four-holed halberd

长 胡 四 穿 戈 chang2 Hu2 si4 chuan1 ge1

Travis

axe (ancient), relative, relative on mother's side, sorrow

戚 qi1

Travis

Hu, Hu person, Hu people

胡 人 Hu2ren2

Travis

farm implements

农 具 nong2ju4

Lynn

erbei, wine heater

耳 杯 er3bei1

Sarah GChelsea

pottery

缶 fou3

Sarah GChelsea

jia, (small cup for wine with handles and large knobs or ears on the top)

啃 jia1

CeCelia

cooking, culinary arts

烹 饪 peng1ren4

CeCelia

underside, bottom, base, ins and outs, rough draft

底 di3

Shao DanniZhang NingZhang LiCao HuiShu Chang
AustinStephan

weng, covered round belly pot

瓮 weng4

Lynn

silver plate, plane of the universe

银 盘 yin2pan2

Travis

stone spade

石 铲 shi2chan3

CeCelia

bow bag, bow sack

弓 囊 gong1 nang2

Travis

bronze li, three-legged bronze cooking jar

铜 鬲 tong2 li4

Travis

standing female figure (used as a burial object)

女 立 俑 nu~3 li4 yong3

Lynn

fu, ancient pedestal server

鋪 fu

Lynn

hu, covered wine vessel

壶 ( 控 ) hu2

Sarah GChelsea

bottle shaped gourd (has two bulbous areas separated by an indented area)

葫 芦 hu2lu

CeCelia

Wu Hu, five Hu peoples (ancient)

五 胡 Wu3 Hu2

Travis

bronze parts

铜 构 件 tong2 gou4jian4

Lynn

food processing equipment

粮 食 加 工 工 具 liang2shi4 jia1gong1 gong1ju4

Lynn

paint, pigment, dye

颜 料 yan2liao4

CeCelia

heavenly god, god

天 王 tian1wang1

Travis

jin, wine tray (ancient)

禁 jin1

Sarah GChelsea

ling, wide bodied jar

啃 ling2

Sarah GChelsea

pillar, post, column, peg, stem

柱 zhu4

Travis

beizhu, ancient coin container

贝 贮 bei4zhu4

Sarah GChelsea

pottery figure, (funerary object buried in tombs)

陶 俑 tao2yong3

Sarah GChelsea

brown glaze, dark grey brown glaze

褐 釉 he4 you4

Travis

rustic axe, village axe (ancient)

乡 戚 xiang1 qi1

Travis

pottery

陶 tao2

CeCelia

Funerary objects were placed in tombs to accompany the person into the next world.

随 葬 品 是 放 在 墓 穴 中 在 另 一 个 世 界 陪 伴 死 者 的 器 皿 。 Sui2zang4 pin3 shi4 zai4 ling4 yi2 ge shi4jie1 pei2 ban4 si2zhe3 de qi4min3.

Travis

bi, circlet, ring, annulus (flat round circle with a hole in the center, often made of jade)

璧 bi4

CeCelia

sickle shaped instrument (weapon)

镰 形 器 lian2 xing2 qi4

Travis

bronze plowshare, bronze spade

铜 铧 tong2 hua2

Lynn

cooking vessel, culinary vessel

烹 饪 器 peng1ren4 qi4

CeCelia

axle

车 辕 che1yuan2

Lynn

cicada

蝉 chan2

Travis

dou, ancient pedestal server

豆 dou4

Lynn

fu, bronze or basket food container

嚎 fu3

Lynn

three-legged jar

三 足 罐 san1 zu2 guan4

CeCelia

painted

彩 绘 cai3hui4

Lynn

outlined in gold

描 金 miao2jin1

Travis

bei, water cup (ancient)

杯 bei1

Sarah GChelsea

Dali man (180,000 and 230,000 years ago)

大 荔 人 Da4li4 ren2

to engrave, to inscribe

镌 juan1

dagger, ladle, ancient type of flat spoon

匕 bi3

CeCelia

Yangshao culture (Neolithic culture centered around the Wei River - 5000-3000 BC)

仰 韶 文 化 Yang3shao2 wen2hua4

CeCelia

zhong, pottery zhong, (pottery vase with large bulbous base and long narrow neck)

陶 锺 tao2zhong1

Travis

cloud decorated ding, thunder decorated ding

雷 纹 鼎 lei2 wen2 ding3

CeCelia

ogre mask design, zoomorphic mask motif (common from the Shang dynasty onward)

饕 餮 纹 tao1tie4 wen2

CeCelia

bit (horse), mouthpiece

马 衔 ma3xian2

Lynn

square brick

方 砖 fang1 zhuan1

Travis

jade seal

玉 玺 yu4 xi3

Lynn

Ying (ancient capital of Chu in Jianling, Hubei)

郢 Ying3

Sarah GChelsea

water vessel, water vase

水 器 shui3qi4

CeCelia

painted figurine of a kneeling woman (funerary object)

彩 绘 跽 坐 女 俑 cai3hui4 ji4zuo4 nu~3 yong3

Lynn

fu, cauldron, caldron, kettle

釜 fu3

Sarah GChelsea

barbarian

野 蛮 人 ye3man2ren2

dragon head axe

龙 首 纹 戈 long2shou3 wen2 ge1

CeCelia

gui, ancient bronze food vessel with a large round mouth and two or four handles, bamboo basket

簋 gui2

Lynn

lotus pattern

莲 花 纹 lian2hua1 wen2

Travis

decorative object

饰 件 shi4jian4

Travis

kneeling (sitting on the heels with the knees on the ground)

跽 坐 ji4zuo4

Lynn

bronze

青 铜 qing1tong2

Travis

jihu, wine drinking vessel (ancient)

汲 壶 ( 汲 控 ) ji2hu2

Sarah GChelsea

coin mold, money mold, coin form

钱 范 qian2fan4

Lynn

again, once more; to repeat, to duplicate

重 chong2

Zhang MengLiu XiaoyunHuang XuCao Lihua
AshleyJeremyLynnNick

eaves tile, end tile

瓦 当 wa3dang1

Lynn

battle-axe, dagger axe

钺 yue4

Travis

subject (of a kingdom or ruler, monarchy), liege subject

臣 民 chen2min2

he, ancient water container

盉 he2

Lynn

archaeological site, ruins, historic relics

遗 址 yi2zhi3

Sarah GChelsea

spear, lance

矛 mao2

Du FengDeng YichenWang ChenZhou HuiRen Shuang
Ann

calabash, gourd shaped bottle

葫 芦 瓶 hu2lu ping2

CeCelia

Jurchen (ruled northwest China, Manchuria, from the 900's and established the Jin Dynasty (1115?C1234) )

女 真 Nu~3zhen1


http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Chinese/topics/topics.html
Last Update: July 2012
©  Marilyn Shea 1999, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012