水族馆
shuǐzúguǎn
The English phrase 'aquarium' is translated into Chinese as 水族馆 (shuǐzúguǎn).
Meaning: tank for keeping fish (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 水族馆 is composed of 水 (water), 族 (tribe/group) and 馆 (building/establishment).
Which one should you use?
Use 水族馆 for a large public aquarium building, but use 鱼缸 for a small household fish tank.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hokkien, the variations 魚缸 and 水族館 are used for aquarium.
How do you pronounce it?
shuǐzúguǎn
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the fish in an aquarium are often chosen for their names. The word for 'goldfish' 金鱼 sounds similar to 'gold', symbolizing wealth and prosperity in the home.
- The character 馆 in 水族馆 is also used for 'embassy' 大使馆 and 'library' 图书馆. It implies a place where specific knowledge or people are gathered and preserved.
- The word 鱼缸 (fish tank) literally translates to 'fish bowl/jar', where 缸 refers to a large ceramic vat or basin rather than a modern glass tank.
Examples in context
- 我们去海洋馆吧。Wǒmen qù hǎiyáng guǎn ba.
Example conversation
Yuting and Haoran are planning their weekend trip.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，我们周末去水族馆吧？Hàorán, wǒmen zhōumò qù shuǐzúguǎn ba?Haoran, shall we go to the aquarium this weekend?
- 浩然 Haoran好啊，我也想去。Hǎo a, wǒ yě xiǎng qù.Sure, I want to go too.
- 雨婷 Yuting你知道水族馆在哪里吗？Nǐ zhīdào shuǐzúguǎn zài nǎlǐ ma?Do you know where the aquarium is?
- 浩然 Haoran在市中心，离这里很近。Zài shìzhōngxīn, lí zhèlǐ hěn jìn.It's in the city center, very close to here.
