蝴蝶
húdié/xu³⁵ ti̯ɛ³⁵/
The English phrase "butterflies" is translated into Chinese as 蝴蝶 (húdié).
蝴蝶 refers to colorful flying insects with two pairs of large wings.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 蝴蝶 is a compound of two components, 蝴 (hú) and 蝶 (dié), which are both used specifically in the name of the butterfly.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting butterflies, the most common measure word used is 只 (zhī), as seen in the phrase 一只蝴蝶 (one butterfly).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is húdié.
Did you know?
- In Chinese, the character 蝶 is also used in the word 牒, which refers to an 'official document' because both originally referred to flat objects.
Examples in context
- 他抓到了二十隻蝴蝶。He caught twenty butterflies.This sentence is useful for practicing how to express the action of catching butterflies with the word 蝴蝶.Tatoeba #4262137 by egg0073, translation #304291 by _undertoad
- 我喜欢蝴蝶。I like butterflies.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal preference for 蝴蝶.Tatoeba #8932478 by iiujik, translation #3186577 by piterkeo
- 蝴蝶都很美丽。Butterflies are beautiful.This sentence is useful for describing the beauty of 蝴蝶.Tatoeba #8932477 by iiujik, translation #3045260 by Hybrid
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a garden.
- 伟 Wei看，那里有很多蝴蝶。Kàn, nàlǐ yǒu hěnduō húdié.Look, there are many butterflies over there.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那些蝴蝶的颜色真漂亮。Nàxiē húdié de yánsè zhēn piàoliang.The colors of those butterflies are truly beautiful.
- 伟 Wei你最喜欢哪种蝴蝶？Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎ zhǒng húdié?Which kind of butterfly do you like most?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我喜欢这只蓝色的蝴蝶。Wǒ xǐhuān zhè zhǐ lánsè de húdié.I like this blue butterfly.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 蝴蝶, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 蝴蝶, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
