How to Say "Black Cat" in Chinese

黑猫

hēimāo

The English phrase "black cat" is translated into Chinese as 黑猫 (hēimāo).

黑猫 refers to a cat with black fur.

What does it mean word for word?

The term is composed of 黑 (hēi), meaning "black" and 猫 (māo), meaning "cat".

In Cantonese, the standard term for a black cat is Hāk māau (黑貓).

hēimāo

In Chinese political history, the phrase 黑猫白猫 (black cat, white cat) became a global metaphor for pragmatism after Deng Xiaoping famously said it does not matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.
While black cats are often seen as bad luck in the West, in some Chinese folk traditions, a 黑猫 is actually considered a symbol of good luck and a protector of the home.
The word for cat 猫 (māo) is an onomatopoeia that mimics the sound of a cat in many Chinese-speaking regions, much like the English 'meow'.

黑猫跑得飞快。
The black cat runs fast.
This sentence shows the use of 黑猫 to describe the speed of a cat.
Tatoeba #7781733 by jiangche, translation #4554828 by Choctaw_Irish
有人说过，不论黑猫白猫，能捉到老鼠就是好猫。但是，现在一般人很难见到老鼠了。那么，怎样的猫才是好猫呢？
Some people say, regardless of whether it is a black cat or a white cat, if it can catch mice it is a good cat. However, nowadays ordinary people rarely ever have mice. Therefore, how can a cat be a good cat?
This text uses 黑猫 in a philosophical discussion about the qualities of a good cat.
Tatoeba #8715811 by crescat, translation #8932626 by iiujik
黑猫在吃白鼠。
The black cat is eating the white mouse.
This sentence uses 黑猫 to identify a cat that is eating a mouse.
Tatoeba #1888699 by Venki, translation #9406739 by phcavelar
我在街上看到一只可爱的黑猫。(Wǒ zài jiē shàng kàn dào yī zhī kě'ài de hēi māo.)
I saw a cute black cat on the street.
她的黑猫总是躲在床底下。(Tā de hēi māo zǒng shì duǒ zài chuáng dǐ xià.)
Her black cat always hides under the bed.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are looking at photos on a phone.

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