龟

龜

guī, jūn, qiū

乚 + 日 + 𠂊

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

guī (noun) tortoise; turtle

Etymology

Simplified form of 龜. Pictograph of a tortoise.

About

龟 is the simplified form of 龜, a pictograph originally depicting a tortoise in profile with its head, shell, legs, and tail. The traditional character 龜 retains much of this detail, while the simplified 龟 reduces the strokes to an outline of the shell and head. Throughout history, 龟 has denoted turtles and tortoises, and it also acquired cultural associations with longevity and divination from the ancient use of turtle shells.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只动物是乌龟。

Zhè zhī dòngwù shì wūguī.

This animal is a turtle.

我看见了一只小乌龟。

Wǒ kànjiànle yī zhī xiǎo wūguī.

I saw a little turtle.

乌龟在石头上晒太阳。

Wūguī zài shítou shang shài tàiyáng.

The turtle is basking in the sun on a rock.

他养了一只宠物龟。

Tā yǎngle yī zhī chǒngwù guī.

He keeps a pet turtle.

乌龟的壳非常坚硬。

Wūguī de ké fēicháng jiānyìng.

A turtle's shell is very hard.

这种龟的寿命很长。

Zhè zhǒng guī de shòumìng hěn cháng.

This species of turtle has a very long lifespan.

他戴着一副玳瑁龟壳眼镜。

Tā dàizhe yī fù dàimào guī ké yǎnjìng.

He is wearing a pair of tortoiseshell glasses.

车辆像乌龟一样缓慢移动。

Chēliàng xiàng wūguī yīyàng huǎnmàn yídòng.

The vehicles are moving as slowly as turtles.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 乚

Component: 日

Component: 𠂊

Example Words