Think Like a Free Rabbit With These Chinese Animal Expressions

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In both Western and Chinese cultures, we hold stereotypes about certain animals. For example, pigs are considered to be lazy, foxes sneaky, and donkeys stupid… But there are plenty of differences too, and it can be particularly illuminating to understand how a culture perceives its animals.

As such, we've gathered some Mandarin animal-related expressions that give us fun insight into how China views the animal kingdom.

Bears

熊市 xióngshì

Literal meaning: Bear market

Actual meaning: A market when stock prices are falling

熊孩子 xióng háizi

Literal meaning: Bear cubs

Actual meaning: Naughty children

Birds

菜鸟 cài niǎo

Literal meaning: Lame bird

Actual meaning: A rookie

关你鸟事 guān nǐ niǎo shì

Literal meaning: It’s your bird’s business

Actual meaning: It’s none of your business

乌鸦嘴 wūyā zuǐ

Literal meaning: Crow's mouth

Actual meaning: A person who jinxes something or someone

Cats

馋猫 chánmāo

Literal meaning: Greedy cat

Actual meaning: Someone who is greedy (especially for food)

夜猫子 yèmāozi

Literal meaning: Night cat

Actual meaning: Someone who stays up late (a night owl)

猫尿 māo niào  

Literal meaning: Cat urine

Actual meaning: Alcohol

Cows

吹牛 chuīniú

Literal meaning: Blow away a cow

Actual meaning: To brag

牛市 niúshì

Literal meaning: Bull market

Actual meaning: A market where stock prices are rising (as opposed to bear market, see below)

黄牛 huángniú

Literal meaning: Yellow cattle

Actual meaning: A scalper

Dogs

哈巴狗 hābāgǒu

Literal meaning: Pug dog

Actual meaning: Someone who is good at flattering others

落水狗 luòshuǐgǒu

Literal meaning: A dog falling into water

Actual meaning: A person (usually bad by nature) who has fallen in life circumstances and social standing

走狗 zǒugǒu

Literal meaning: Running dog

Actual meaning: Someone who is good at flattering others

Donkeys

笨驴 bèn lǘ

Literal meaning: A stupid donkey

Actual meaning: A stupid person, or 'ass'

倔驴 juè Lǘ

Literal meaning: A stubborn donkey

Actual meaning: A stubborn person

"I'm not stupid"

Fowl

铁公鸡 tiěgōngjī

Literal meaning: Iron rooster

Actual meaning: A stingy person

落汤鸡 luòtāngjī

Literal meaning: A chicken falling into soup

Actual meaning: A lighthearted way to describe someone who has gotten wet from a downpour

Horses

马马虎虎 mǎmǎ hǔhǔ

Literal meaning: Horse-horse tiger-tiger

Actual meaning: Just so-so, nothing special

拍马屁 pāimǎpì

Literal meaning: Slap the horse's rump

Actual meaning: To flatter someone

马尿 mǎ niào

Literal meaning: Horse urine

Actual meaning: Alcohol

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Mice

胆小如鼠 dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ

Literal meaning: As timid as a mouse

Actual meaning: A timid person

Pigs

懒猪 lǎn zhū

Literal meaning: Lazy pig

Actual meaning: A lazy person

笨猪  bèn zhū

Literal meaning: Stupid pig

Actual meaning: A stupid person                

Rabbits

动如脱兔 dòng rú tuō tù

Literal meaning: A free rabbit

Actual meaning: Someone who is agile and fast

Wolves

色狼 sèláng

Literal meaning: Colored wolf

Actual meaning: A sexual pervert, or 'horndog'

狼吞虎咽 lángtūn hǔyàn

Literal meaning: Swallow like a wolf or tiger

Actual meaning: To gorge oneself, or 'wolf down' one's food

Photos: Pixabay; gif.com

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