躲猫猫
duǒmāomāo
Peek-a-boo in Chinese is 躲猫猫 (duǒmāomāo).
The term 躲猫猫 is used for the game of peek-a-boo played with babies. It is also the standard way to say hide-and-seek for children.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 躲 (duǒ) meaning 'to hide', 猫 (māo) meaning 'cat' and the reduplication of 猫 (māo) to create a playful, rhythmic sound: 'hide cat cat'.
How do you pronounce it?
duǒmāomāo
Did you know?
- The term 躲猫猫 has evolved in modern internet slang to describe a 'cat-and-mouse' game of avoiding someone or playing hard to get in romantic contexts.
- The phrase 躲猫猫 can be used metaphorically in news or politics to describe a government agency or official who is 'hiding' from their responsibilities.
- While 躲猫猫 describes the action of hiding, the sudden 'boo' reveal in Chinese is often accompanied by the sound 来了 (láile), which means 'here I come'.
Examples in context
- 他在和宝宝玩躲猫猫。Tā zài hé bǎobao wán duǒmāomāo.He is playing peek-a-boo with the baby.
Example conversation
Xiao Wen and Jun Jie are playing with their baby.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen俊杰，你看宝宝在笑呢。Jùnjié, nǐ kàn bǎobao zài xiào ne.Jun Jie, look, the baby is laughing.
- 俊杰 Junjie因为我想和他玩躲猫猫。Yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng hé tā wán duǒmāomāo.Because I want to play peek-a-boo with him.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen他在期待你再次出现。Tā zài qīdài nǐ zàicì chūxiàn.He is waiting for you to appear again.
- 俊杰 Junjie躲猫猫！我在这里！Duǒmāomāo! Wǒ zài zhèlǐ!Peek-a-boo! I'm here!
