芍药

芍藥

sháoyào

noun

Measure Word

一朵芍药 duǒ

Meanings

1 Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
2 herbaceous peony

Characters

Examples

五月芍药开得正好。

Wǔyuè sháoyào kāi de zhènghǎo.

In May the peonies are in full bloom.

她最喜欢粉色的芍药。

Tā zuì xǐhuan fěnsè de sháoyào.

She likes pink peonies the most.

Tips

culture

Often confused with 牡丹 (tree peony). 芍药 is the herbaceous peony — a soft-stemmed plant that dies back each winter, while 牡丹 is a woody shrub. In traditional Chinese culture 牡丹 is called the 'king of flowers' and 芍药 the 'prime minister'.

Stroke Order

芍 sháo

药 yào