熊貓 / 熊猫
xióngmāo
The English word "panda" is translated into Chinese as 熊貓 / 熊猫 (xióngmāo). Wiktionary also lists 大熊貓 / 大熊猫 (dàxióngmāo) and 貓熊 / 猫熊 (māoxióng).
Meaning: Ailuropoda melanoleuca (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 熊貓 / 熊猫 | xióngmāo |
| 大熊貓 / 大熊猫 | dàxióngmāo |
| 貓熊 / 猫熊 | māoxióng |
| 大貓熊 / 大猫熊 | dàmāoxióng |
The term refers to the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 熊貓 / 熊猫 is a compound of two characters: 熊 (bear) and 貓 (cat), literally meaning "bear cat".
Which one should you use?
While 熊貓 / 熊猫 is commonly used to refer to a panda, adding the character 大 (big or giant) to form 大熊貓 / 大熊猫 is a more precise and formal way to refer specifically to the giant panda.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, speakers often use either 熊貓 (hùhng māau) or 熊猫 (hùng māau) to refer to pandas.
How do you pronounce it?
xióngmāo
Did you know?
- The name 熊貓 displaced the term 貘 because of a misinterpretation of a mythical chimera in ancient texts.
- In Chinese culture, the panda is often seen as a symbol of peace and diplomacy, which is why they are frequently gifted to other nations as 'panda diplomacy'.
- The term 熊貓 / 熊猫 was not originally created for the giant panda, but was actually used to describe the smaller red panda.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “panda” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 熊貓, CC BY-SA 4.0.
