爪子
zhuǎzi
In Chinese, the English word "paw" is expressed as 爪子 (zhuǎzi). If unsure, use 爪子. Wiktionary also lists 腳 / 脚 (jiǎo) and 爪 (zhuǎ).
Meaning: soft foot of an animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 爪子 | zhuǎzi |
| 腳 / 脚 | jiǎo |
| 爪 | zhuǎ |
| 蹯 | fán |
爪子 is the most common way to refer to the soft or clawed paw of a cat, dog or other small animals.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 爪子 is composed of 爪, meaning claw and the noun suffix 子.
Which one should you use?
While 腳 or 脚 refers to a foot in a general biological sense (which includes humans), 爪子 specifically emphasizes the clawed or padded paw of an animal. The term 蹯 is another form for paw.
How do you pronounce it?
zhuǎzi
Did you know?
- In Chinese culinary culture, 爪子 often refers to chicken feet, a popular dim sum dish, rather than the paw of a pet.
- The character 爪 was originally a pictogram of a human hand reaching down from above, rather than an animal's claw.
- In colloquial Chinese, 爪子 can be used metaphorically to describe a clumsy or oversized hand.
Examples in context
- 他拥有一双锋利的爪子。He has a pair of sharp paws.
- 小猫的爪爪真可爱。The kitten's paws are really adorable.
- 貓的爪子很柔軟。Māo de zhuǎzi hěn róuruǎn.The cat's paws are very soft.
- 小狗用爪子挖土。Xiǎogǒu yòng zhuǎzi wā tǔ.The puppy uses its paws to dig in the dirt.
- 老虎的爪子很大。Lǎohǔ de zhuǎzi hěn dà.A tiger's paws are very large.
Example conversation
Yuting and Junjie are looking at a cat.
- 雨婷 Yuting你看这只猫的爪子好可爱。Nǐ kàn zhè zhī māo de zhuǎzi hǎo kě'ài.Look at this cat's paws, they are so cute.
- 俊杰 Junjie我也觉得，它们像小肉垫。Wǒ yě juéde, tāmen xiàng xiǎo ròudiàn.I think so too, they look like little paw pads.
- 雨婷 Yuting它在用爪子拍我。Tā zài yòng zhuǎzi pāi wǒ.It is patting me with its paw.
- 俊杰 Junjie因为它在跟你打招呼呢。Bēnwèi tā zài gēn nǐ dǎzhāohū ne.That's because it is greeting you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paw” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 爪, 腳, 蹯, CC BY-SA 4.0.
