獅子 / 狮子
si¹ zi²
The Cantonese word for lion is 獅子 / 狮子 (si¹ zi²).
The term refers to the big cat of the species Panthera leo.
Meaning: big cat Panthera leo (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
si¹ zi²
Did you know?
- The Cantonese word 獅子 is often used in the idiom 獅子大張口, which describes someone who makes greedy or excessive demands.
- While the word 獅子 refers to the animal, the term 獅子舞 refers to a specific, high-energy traditional dance performed during Lunar New Year celebrations.
- In the context of traditional opera and folk art, the 獅子 is often paired with the dragon to represent the two most powerful creatures of the land and sky.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
