Language/Min-nan-chinese/Vocabulary/Animals
Hi Min Nan Chinese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn some animal names in Min Nan Chinese.
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Say Hello and Greetings in Min Nan Chinese, Family, Count to 10 & Food.
Basic Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Let's start with some basic animal names:
| Min Nan Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 鱼 | hû | fish |
| 虫 | tiong | insect |
| 鸟 | liû | bird |
| 狗 | kâu | dog |
| 猫 | miâo | cat |
| 大象 | tāi-iong | elephant |
| 熊 | hîng | bear |
| 猴 | hâu | monkey |
| 象 | siông | rhinoceros |
| 马 | bé | horse |
Some interesting facts:
- In China, fish symbolize wealth, abundance, and prosperity. They are often given as gifts during the Chinese New Year. - The Chinese believe that seeing crickets brings good luck and blessings. - The Chinese phoenix is often depicted as a bird with golden feathers and is a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. - Dogs are considered lucky animals in China and are believed to bring good fortune - In ancient Chinese mythology, cats are believed to have supernatural powers and can change their form at will.
Intermediate Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Now, let's learn some intermediate animal names:
| Min Nan Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 虎 | hóo | tiger |
| 狮子 | sī-á | lion |
| 蛇 | siâ | snake |
| 鲸鱼 | kiń hû | whale |
| 海豚 | hái-thun | dolphin |
| 企鹅 | khī-peng | penguin |
| 兔子 | thu-chú | rabbit |
| 鹿 | lo̍k | deer |
| 狼 | lâng | wolf |
| 老鼠 | lāu-chú | mouse |
Some interesting facts:
- Tigers are seen as the King of the Forest in Chinese culture and are often depicted as ferocious and powerful creatures. - Lions are symbolic of courage, strength, and authority in Chinese culture. - Snakes are a common motif in Chinese folk lore and mythology. In some stories, they are depicted as shapeshifters who can take human form. - Dolphins are believed to be a symbol of harmony, prosperity, and good fortune in Chinese culture.
Conversational Practice[edit | edit source]
Person 1: 你喜欢什么动物？(Lí hí-óng sî-má thóng-piáu-mi̍h?) (What animals do you like?)
Person 2: 我喜欢熊。(Góa hí-óng hîng.) (I like bears.)
Person 1: 你有没有看过鲸鱼？(Lí ū-m̄ ū kiń hû khì-kang-guó?) (Have you ever seen a whale?)
Person 2: 没有，你呢？(Bô, lí-ne?) (No, what about you?)
Person 1: 我也没有，但我听说他们很大。(Góa iá bô, tán góa khìn-sóe tāu ê hô-kî.) (I haven't either, but I heard that they are very big.)
Further Practice[edit | edit source]
To improve your Min Nan Chinese Vocabulary, you can learn more animal names by visiting Polyglot Club's Vocabulary section. You can also practice speaking with native speakers by using the Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎