【析形】形声字。古文字形从艸,阑声。 【释义】《说文》:“香艸也。”本义是兰草。又指兰花,花幽香清远,可供观赏。兰多生阴地幽谷,开时满室尽香,与其他花香有别,故自古以来都为世人喜爱,并常被用为比喻志趣高洁、与众不同。又引申为芳香,常用作称美之辞,如[兰室](芳香高雅的居室,多指妇女的居室)、[兰讯](对他人书简的美称)。[兰桂]兰和桂,二者皆有异香,常用以比喻美才盛德或君子贤人。 【shape analysis】It is the pictophonetic character.The meaning is related to 艸(ǎo,cottage).It sounds like阑(lán). 【original meaning】The Blue Grass,as well as orchid.兰(lán)is grown in the valley.When it is in blossom,it smells very special,which is different from the other flowers.Hence,it is crushed by the people in the world,considered as the symbol of noble and extraordinary inclination.