獅子 / 狮子
si¹ zi²
The Cantonese word for lion is 獅子 / 狮子, pronounced si¹ zi².
獅子 / 狮子 is used to refer to the big cat *Panthera leo*.
Meaning: big cat Panthera leo (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 獅子 / 狮子 is the standard full word, the single character 獅 is often used in more formal contexts or within compound words.
How do you pronounce it?
si¹ zi²
Did you know?
- While 獅子 refers to the animal, the word 獅 is used in the term 獅子山精神, or 'Lion Rock Spirit'. This describes the resilience and hard work of the people of Hong Kong.
- In Cantonese astrology and feng shui, the 獅子 is viewed as a protector. Statues of lions are frequently placed at the entrances of businesses to ward off negative energy.
- During the Lunar New Year, you will see the 舞獅 or 'lion dance'. These dancers do not attempt to look like real lions but instead follow a stylized design based on Chinese mythology.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
