Chinese word

动物

Pronunciation

Pinyindòng wù

Meaning

  • nounanimal

Example

公园里有很多动物。gōng yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō dòng wù

There are many animals in the park.

Illustration for 动物 (animal)

More examples

孩子们在动物园看到很多动物。hái zi men zài dòng wù yuán kàn dào hěn duō dòng wù

The children saw many animals at the zoo.

Core concept

A self-moving living creature in the broad group that includes land, water, and flying creatures.

Common phrases

  • 看动物kàn dòng wù

    see animals

  • 野生动物yě shēng dòng wù

    wild animals

Similar words

宠物chǒng wù: An animal kept and cared for by people at home.
动物园dòng wù yuán: A place where many kinds of animals are kept for people to see.
野生动物yě shēng dòng wù: An animal that lives in nature rather than being kept by people.
生物shēng wù: A living thing of any kind.

Definition in Chinese

指有生命、能自行运动且不是植物的生物。zhǐ yǒu shēng mìng néng zì xíng yùn dòng qiě bú shì zhí wù de shēng wù

Word origin

动物 (dòngwù, "animal") is formed from 动 (dòng, "move") + 物 (wù, "thing"), so its name centers on a living thing that can move independently.

Usage tips

  • Chinese nouns usually keep the same form for one or many, so context or a number word shows whether this word means one animal or several animals.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word