藓 (xiǎn): moss

Meanings

古老的石阶上长满了苔藓。

Gǔlǎo de shíjiē shàng zhǎng mǎn le táixiǎn.

The old stone steps were covered with a layer of moss.

苔藓容易在阴湿处生长。

Táixiǎn róngyì zài yīnshī chù shēngzhǎng.

Moss grows readily in damp, shady places.

usage

Most common in 苔藓 (moss). Botanically 苔 is liverwort and 藓 is true moss, but together they just mean moss in everyday speech.

radical

艹 cǎo

grass; plant

Top 艹 is the grass radical 艸 in top form. It marks 藓 as a low plant — moss.

phonetic

鲜 xiān

fresh; (phonetic)

Below sits 鲜 supplying the sound (xiān shifting tone to xiǎn) and a faint flavor of fresh green growth. The same phonetic anchors 癣 (ringworm).

藓 xiǎn