Animal meanings in Chinese

动物

Example:

The elephant is a large animal.

大象是一种大型动物。

Animals live in various habitats.

动物生活在不同的栖息地。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in biological, ecological, and general discussions about living creatures.

Note: This is the most common meaning and refers to any member of the kingdom Animalia.

畜生

Example:

He treats people like animals.

他像对待畜生一样对待人。

Don't act like an animal in public.

在公共场合不要像畜生一样行为。

Usage: informalContext: Used in derogatory contexts to describe someone's behavior as uncivilized or crude.

Note: This term can carry a negative connotation, implying a lack of manners or decency.

野兽

Example:

Lions are considered wild animals.

狮子被认为是野兽。

The zoo has many exotic wild animals.

动物园有许多奇特的野兽。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used when discussing feral or wild creatures, often in wildlife conservation contexts.

Note: This term emphasizes the untamed nature of certain species.

人性

Example:

He has an animal instinct for survival.

他有生存的动物本能。

Sometimes, we must rely on our animal instincts.

有时，我们必须依靠我们的动物本能。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in discussions about human behavior, instincts, or psychology.

Note: This meaning highlights the primal instincts shared between humans and animals.

creature

A creature refers to any living being, often used to describe animals in a more general sense.

Example: The forest was filled with all sorts of creatures, big and small.

Note: Creature has a broader scope and can also include mythical or imaginary beings.

beast

Beast usually refers to animals, especially wild or large ones.

Example: The lion is known as the king of beasts.

Note: Beast carries a connotation of wildness or fierceness.

fauna

Fauna refers to the animal life of a particular region or period.

Example: The Galapagos Islands are home to a unique fauna of diverse species.

Note: Fauna is more specific and refers to the collective animal life of a specific area or time.

critter

Critter is an informal term for a living creature, often used affectionately.

Example: The old man had a pet critter that followed him everywhere.

Note: Critter is a colloquial and endearing term for animals.

Animal lover

Someone who has a great love and compassion for animals.

Example: She volunteers at the animal shelter because she is a true animal lover.

Note: This phrase refers to a person's affection for animals rather than the animals themselves.

Party animal

A person who enjoys attending and participating in parties or social gatherings.

Example: John is a real party animal, he never misses a chance to go out and have fun.

Note: The phrase is metaphorical, referring to a person's behavior at parties rather than an actual animal.

Let the cat out of the bag

To reveal a secret or disclose information that was supposed to be kept confidential.

Example: I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the surprise party, but I accidentally let the cat out of the bag.

Note: The phrase uses a cat as a metaphor for revealing something rather than a literal cat.

Hold your horses

To wait or be patient before taking action.

Example: Before you make a decision, hold your horses and think it through.

Note: The phrase uses horses as a metaphor for impulsive behavior, not literal horses.

Don't have a cow

To tell someone not to overreact or get upset about something minor.

Example: Don't have a cow, it's just a small scratch on the car.

Note: The phrase uses a cow as a metaphor for getting overly upset, not a real cow.

The lion's share

The largest portion or the majority of something.

Example: He took the lion's share of the credit for the project, even though we all worked hard.

Note: The phrase uses a lion as a metaphor for dominance or taking the biggest portion.

Like a fish out of water

To feel uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation or environment.

Example: In the new school, she felt like a fish out of water until she made some friends.

Note: The phrase uses a fish as a metaphor for feeling awkward or uneasy, not a literal fish.

Furry friend

This term is often used affectionately to refer to a pet, particularly one with fur like a dog or cat.

Example: My furry friend always greets me at the door when I come home.

Note: While 'animal' is a broad term, 'furry friend' highlights the emotional bond between a person and their pet with fur.

Pet

In common usage, 'pet' refers to an animal that is domesticated and kept for companionship.

Example: I love spending time with my pet; he brings so much joy into my life.

Note: While 'animal' is a general term, 'pet' specifies an animal that is owned and cared for by a person for companionship.

Animal welfare is important.

动物福利很重要。

The zoo has a variety of animals.

动物园里有各种各样的动物。

She has an animal instinct for survival.

她有生存的动物本能。

Animal - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)

Lemma: animal

Conjugations

Adjective (Adjective): animal

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): animals

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): animal

Syllabification and Stress

animal Contains 3 syllables: an • i • mal

Phonetic transcription: ˈa-nə-məl

an i mal , ˈa nə məl (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

animal: 600 - 700 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Animal