Browse "Animals" Characters

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

快马加鞭

kuài mǎ jiā biān

‘快马加鞭’ literally means 'to spur a fast horse

鞭打

biān dǎ

‘鞭打’ is a compound verb meaning 'to flog' or '

鞭策

biān cè

‘鞭策’ literally combines two ancient tools used

鞭子

biān zi

‘鞭子’ (biān zi) is a noun meaning 'whip'—a fl

皮革

pígé

皮革 (pígé) is the standard Mandarin term for 'l

牛革

niú gé

牛革 (niú gé) literally means 'ox hide' — combi

靠拢

kào lǒng

靠拢 (kào lǒng) is a compound verb meaning 'to d

灵性

líng xìng

灵性 (líng xìng) literally combines 灵 (líng),

灵敏

líng mǐn

灵敏 (líng mǐn) is an adjective meaning 'keen' o

雷霆

léi tíng

‘雷霆’ literally combines ‘雷’ (léi, thunder)

雷声

léi shēng

‘雷声’ literally combines ‘雷’ (léi), meaning

雌雄

cí xióng

‘雌雄’ literally combines ‘雌’ (cí), meaning

枭雄

xiāo xióng

‘枭雄’ (xiāo xióng) literally combines ‘枭’

称雄

chēng xióng

‘称雄’ literally means ‘to proclaim oneself a h

隔代

gé dài

‘隔代’ literally means ‘separated by one genera

限量

xiàn liàng

限量 literally means 'limit + quantity' and functi

限制

xiàn zhì

限制 (xiàn zhì) is a versatile word meaning 'res

猛闯

měng chuǎng

猛闯 literally combines 猛 (měng), meaning 'fierc

闪避

shǎn bì

闪避 (shǎn bì) is a compound verb meaning 'to do

闪烁

shǎn shuò

闪烁 is a verb meaning 'to flicker' or 'to glimmer

闪电

shǎn diàn

‘闪电’ literally combines ‘闪’ (shǎn), meanin

链式

liàn shì

‘链式’ (liàn shì) is an adjective meaning 'cha

链条

liàn tiáo

链条 (liàn tiáo) is a compound noun meaning 'cha

锁链

suǒ liàn

‘锁链’ (suǒ liàn) literally means ‘lock chain

销声匿迹

xiāo shēng nì jì

‘销声匿迹’ literally means ‘to erase one’s voi

驼铃

tuó líng

‘驼铃’ literally combines ‘驼’ (tuó), meaning

钓具

diào jù

‘钓具’ (diào jù) literally combines ‘钓’ (di

钓竿

diào gān

‘钓竿’ (diào gān) literally combines ‘钓’ (d

钓饵

diào ěr

‘钓饵’ literally combines ‘钓’ (diào), meanin

钓鱼执法

diào yú zhí fǎ

'钓鱼执法' (diào yú zhí fǎ) is a vivid Chinese

虾酱

xiā jiàng

Shrimp paste (xiā jiàng) is a pungent, fermented

配对

pèi duì

‘配对’ literally combines 配 (pèi), meaning 'to

遗传

yíchuán

遗传 (yíchuán) literally combines 遗 (yí, 'to l

违禁

wéi jìn

违禁 is an adjective meaning 'illegal' or 'prohibi

逗引

dòu yǐn

逗引 is a compound verb meaning 'to entice' or 'to

角逐

jué zhú

角逐 literally combines 角 (jué), meaning 'to com

驱逐

qū zhú

驱逐 means 'to expel' or 'to drive out', often wit

逃跑

táo pǎo

‘逃跑’ is a compound verb meaning 'to run away'

返祖

fǎn zǔ

返祖 (fǎn zǔ) literally means 'returning to the

迅风

xùn fēng

迅风 literally combines 迅 (xùn), meaning 'swift'