曹雪芹 Traditional form: 曹雪芹 Pinyin (reading): Cáo Xuěqín Definitions: Cao Xueqin (c. 1715-c. 1764), accepted author of A Dream of Red Mansions 紅樓夢/红楼梦 ( Hónglóu Mèng) Characters: 曹 - ministers, officials; a company; surname 雪 - snow; wipe away shame, avenge 芹 - celery Traditional characters: 曹 - ministers, officials; a company; surname 雪 - snow; wipe away shame, avenge 芹 - celery