蕾

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bud

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

艹 meaning “plant” + 雷 sound ( léi )

Components 艹雷

flower bud · Heisig RSH #1691

flower + 雷 thunder

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
蕾丝花边	lěi sī huā biān	lace border (loanword)
克蕾儿	Kè lěi r	Clare (name)
性蕾期	xìng lěi qī	phallic stage (psychology)
卡纳蕾	kǎ nà lěi	canelé (a French pastry) (loanword)
蕾丝边	lěi sī biān	(slang) (loanword) lesbian
杜蕾斯	Dù lěi sī	Durex, a condom brand name
花蕾	huā lěi	bud; flower bud
水上芭蕾	shuǐ shàng bā lěi	synchronized swimming
蕾丝	lěi sī	(textiles) (loanword) lace
烤布蕾	kǎo bù lěi	(loanword) crème brûlée
欧蕾	ōu lěi	(loanword) au lait; with milk
味蕾	wèi lěi	taste bud(s)
蕾哈娜	Lěi hā nà	Rihanna (1988-), Barbadian pop singer
莫蕾	mò lěi	mole (Mexican sauce)
埃蕾	āi lěi	centaury herb with flowers (TCM); Herba Centaurii altaici cum flore
芭蕾舞	bā lěi wǔ	ballet (loanword)
舒芙蕾	shū fú lěi	(loanword) soufflé
芭蕾	bā lěi	ballet (loanword)
蔷薇花蕾	qiáng wēi huā lěi	rosebud
蓓蕾	bèi lěi	flower bud; young flower still tightly rolled up

Characters sharing the sound component 雷 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
雷 sound part	léi	thunder; surname
擂	lèi	to rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestle
镭	léi	radium