黑猴
hēi hóu
The English phrase "black monkey" is translated into Chinese as 黑猴 (hēi hóu).
This phrase is used to refer to a monkey with black fur.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 黑 (hēi), meaning 'black' and 猴 (hóu), meaning 'monkey'.
How does it change in a sentence?
While 黑猴 is a concise noun phrase, adding 的 (de) to make 黑色的 (hēi sè de) is a more common way to use 'black' as a descriptive adjective in full sentences, such as in the phrase 黑色的猴子 (black-colored monkey).
How do you pronounce it?
hēi hóu
Did you know?
- In modern internet slang, calling a person a 'black monkey' is a highly offensive racial slur, a usage that is a direct, derogatory translation from English rather than a native Chinese idiom.
- The character for 'black' 黑 is an ideogram that originally depicted a person's face covered in soot, visually representing the color.
- The color 'black' 黑 is associated with the north and the element of water in the traditional Chinese Five Elements theory.
Examples in context
- 我在动物园看到了一只黑猴子。I saw a black monkey at the zoo.
- 那只黑猴在树上。Nà zhī hēi hóu zài shù shàng.That black monkey is in the tree.
Example conversation
Zihan and Wei are visiting a zoo together.
- 梓涵 Zihan伟，你看那只黑猴！Wěi, nǐ kàn nà zhī hēi hóu!Wei, look at that black monkey!
- 伟 Wei它在吃香蕉呢。Tā zài chī xiāngjiāo ne.It is eating a banana.
- 梓涵 Zihan它的毛色真好看。Tā de máosè zhēn hǎokàn.Its fur color is really beautiful.
- 伟 Wei确实，它很可爱。Quèshí, tā hěn kě'ài.Indeed, it is very cute.
