Interesting Animal Names in Chinese

Interesting animal names in Chinese


In different languages, Animal names can reveal a lot about what people think about different animals. Today we will talk about some animal names in Chinese that are very interesting! 

Before we look at these names, I would like to ask you to answer a question: Is turkey chicken? 

vs

Well, if you are an English speaker, you would probably say: Of course no! They are different animals.

Try ask a Chinese the same question in Chinese: Huj sh  j maAnd most likely they would answer yes.

For many Chinese people, turkey is one kind of chicken, and the reason is because of their names!

Turkey in Chinese is Huj, and chicken in Chinese is j, so Huj literally means fire chicken in Chinese, and thats why people think these two animals are in the same category.

There are some animal names in Chinese that are very vivid, lets check it out!


1

xing(bear)  mo(cat)

xingmo

Interestingly, in ancient China, people used to call panda sh ti shu (sh=to eat, ti=iron, shu=beast). Pandas were predator before, and they sometimes eat peoples farming tools and kitchen utensils. And thats why pandas got this terrifying name.


2

chng(long)  jng(neck)  l(deer)

chngjngl


3

di(pocket)    sh(mouse)

di sh


4

bin(change)  s(colour)  lng(dragon)

bin s lng


5

mo(hair)  mo(hair)   chng(bug) 

mo mo chng


6

lng(dragon)    xi(shrimp) 

lng xi


7

sh(tree)  ln(lazy)

sh ln

Its very interesting how names can affect their image in peoples mind, do you know any interesting names in Chinese or other languages? Let us know in the comments below. 



Supervisor: Crystal Huang


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