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Chinese/Dictionary entry

楚楚可怜

chǔ chǔ kě liándictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) pitiable / sweet, innocent and vulnerable
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-838067ce17437c53. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

楚楚可憐 楚楚可怜 [chu3 chu3 ke3 lian2] /(idiom) pitiable; sweet, innocent and vulnerable/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 楚楚可憐

  • 楚
    chǔ

    distinct / clear / orderly / pain / suffering / deciduous bush used in Chinese medicine (genus Vitex) / punishment cane (old)

    Chǔ

    surname Chu / abbr. for Hubei 湖北省[Hú běi Shěng] and Hunan 湖南省[Hú nán Shěng] provinces together / Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)

  • 楚
    chǔ

    distinct / clear / orderly / pain / suffering / deciduous bush used in Chinese medicine (genus Vitex) / punishment cane (old)

    Chǔ

    surname Chu / abbr. for Hubei 湖北省[Hú běi Shěng] and Hunan 湖南省[Hú nán Shěng] provinces together / Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)

  • 可
    kě

    (prefix) can / may / able to / -able / to approve / to permit / to suit / (particle used for emphasis) certainly / very / but / however

    kè

    used in 可汗[kè hán]

  • 怜
    lián

    to pity

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.