Chinese Character: 猫
1. Character Basics
Radical: 犭 (quǎn) - Dog radical (used for animals)
Stroke Count: 11 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Māo (First tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Cat; feline; domestic cat
4. Common Words
- 猫咪 (māo mī) - Cat (affectionate term)
- 猫科 (māo kē) - Felidae (cat family)
- 猫粮 (māo liáng) - Cat food
- 猫爪 (māo zhuǎ) - Cat's paw
- 猫眼 (māo yǎn) - Cat's eye; cat's eye gemstone
5. Grammar & Usage
"猫" is primarily used as a noun to refer to the domestic cat or cats in general. It can be used in various compound words related to cats and their characteristics. It is also commonly used in affectionate terms like "猫咪" (māo mī) when referring to pet cats.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, cats have been kept as pets for thousands of years. They are often associated with luck and are considered good companions. There are many idioms and stories involving cats in Chinese culture, and they are also popular subjects in traditional art and literature.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 我家有一只可爱的小猫。
Pinyin: Wǒ jiā yǒu yī zhī kě ài de xiǎo māo.
English: I have a cute little cat at home.
8. Memory Tips
The left side of "猫" is the dog radical "犭" (quǎn), and the right side is "苗" (miáo). You can remember it as "a small animal (犭) that is as cute as a seedling (苗)" to help recall the meaning of cat.