企鹅
qǐ'é
The English word "penguin" is 企鹅 (qǐ'é) in Chinese.
企鹅 is the noun used to refer to the flightless sea bird known as a penguin.
Meaning: flightless sea bird (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 企 (qǐ), meaning 'to stand on tiptoe' or 'to stoop' and 鹅 (é), meaning 'goose'.
How do you pronounce it?
qǐ'é
Did you know?
- In Chinese internet slang, the word 企鹅 is often used as a nickname for the messaging app QQ because the app's logo is a penguin.
- The character 企 is also found in the Chinese word for 'enterprise' 企业, though the two meanings are now entirely separate.
- In some contexts of Chinese wordplay, the 'tiptoe' aspect of 企 can be used to imply someone is being overly eager or expectant.
Examples in context
- 这只企鹅宝宝太可爱了！This baby penguin is too cute!This sentence shows how to describe a baby 企鹅 as being cute.Tatoeba #502796 by fucongcong, translation #1848 by Zifre
- 我最喜欢的动物是企鹅。My favorite animal is a penguin.
- 你知道企鹅属于鸟类吗？Do you know that penguins belong to the bird family?
- 那只企鹅正在游泳。Nà zhī qǐ'é zhèngzài yóuyǒng.That penguin is swimming.
- 博物馆里有一群企鹅。Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu yīqún qǐ'é.There is a group of penguins in the museum.
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Yuting are looking at a picture book together.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你看，这只企鹅很胖。Nǐ kàn, zhè zhī qǐé hěn pàng.Look, this penguin is very fat.
- 雨婷 Yuting它看起来像个圆球。Tā kàn qǐlái xiàng gè yuánqiú.It looks like a round ball.
- 志强 Zhiqiang企鹅会游泳吗？Qǐé huì yóuyǒng ma?Can penguins swim?
- 雨婷 Yuting会，它们游得很快。Huì, tāmen yóu de hěn kuài.Yes, they swim very fast.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
