Chinese Character: 龟
1. Character Basics
Radical: 龟/guī (turtle)
Stroke Count: 7 strokes (simplified); 16 strokes (traditional)
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Guī (First tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Turtle; tortoise
Extended Meaning: Longevity; something that resembles a turtle shell
Additional Meaning: Cautious; slow-moving
4. Common Words
- 乌龟 (wū guī) - Tortoise
Example: 他养了一只乌龟作为宠物。(Tā yǎng le yī zhī wū guī zuò wéi chǒng wù. - He keeps a tortoise as a pet.) - 海龟 (hǎi guī) - Sea turtle
Example: 我们在海滩上看到了一只大海龟。(Wǒ men zài hǎi tān shàng kàn dào le yī zhī dà hǎi guī. - We saw a big sea turtle on the beach.) - 龟甲 (guī jiǎ) - Tortoise shell
Example: 古代中国人用龟甲来占卜。(Gǔ dài zhōng guó rén yòng guī jiǎ lái zhān bǔ. - Ancient Chinese used tortoise shells for divination.) - 龟兹 (Qiū cí) - Ancient kingdom (Kucha)
Example: 龟兹是丝绸之路上的重要城市。(Qiū cí shì sī chóu zhī lù shàng de zhòng yào chéng shì. - Kucha was an important city on the Silk Road.) - 龟缩 (guī suō) - To huddle up; to withdraw
Example: 他害怕地龟缩在角落里。(Tā hài pà de guī suō zài jiǎo luò lǐ. - He huddled up in the corner in fear.)
5. Grammar & Usage
Noun Usage: Refers to the animal turtle/tortoise
Example: 龟是长寿的象征。(Guī shì cháng shòu de xiàng zhēng. - The turtle is a symbol of longevity.)
Adjective Usage: Describes something that resembles a turtle or has qualities associated with turtles
Example: 他的动作很龟速。(Tā de dòng zuò hěn guī sù. - His movements are very slow.)
Common Structure: Often used in compound words related to turtles or turtle-like things
Example: 龟背竹 (guī bèi zhú) - Monstera plant (literally "turtle back bamboo")
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the turtle (龟) is one of the Four Celestial Animals (四灵 - Sì líng) along with the dragon, phoenix, and qilin. It symbolizes longevity, wisdom, and good fortune.
Turtles have been revered in China for thousands of years. In ancient times, tortoise shells were used for divination (甲骨文 - jiǎ gǔ wén - oracle bone script). The turtle's long lifespan has made it a popular symbol in art, literature, and architecture.
The term "龟龄" (guī líng) is often used to wish someone a long life, and the "龟鹤延年" (guī hè yán nián) design, featuring both a turtle and a crane, is a common symbol of longevity.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
中文: 这只乌龟已经活了五十年了。
拼音: Zhè zhī wū guī yǐ jīng huó le wǔ shí nián le.
English: This tortoise has already lived for fifty years.
Example 2:
中文: 他慢慢地走着，像一只乌龟。
拼音: Tā màn màn de zǒu zhe, xiàng yī zhī wū guī.
English: He walks slowly, like a tortoise.
Example 3:
中文: 龟壳上的花纹非常漂亮。
拼音: Guī ké shàng de huā wén fēi cháng piào liang.
English: The patterns on the tortoise shell are very beautiful.
8. Memory Tips
1. Visual Association: The character 龟 resembles a turtle with its head, shell, and legs.
2. Stroke Mnemonic: Remember the 7 strokes in order: top part (㇇), horizontal (一), vertical (丨), horizontal (一), diagonal (ノ), dot (丶), and the final stroke (乚).
3. Sound Association: The pinyin "guī" sounds similar to the English word "gway", but with a rising tone.
4. Cultural Connection: Link the character to its cultural meaning of longevity and wisdom.
5. Word Association: Learn common words like 乌龟 (wū guī - tortoise) to reinforce your memory of the character.