Definitions
(noun)
tortoise; turtle
Etymology
Simplified form of 龜. Pictograph of a tortoise.
About
The character "龟" originated as a pictograph of a turtle, with its traditional form "龜" stylizing the animal's profile including its head, shell, and legs. The shape evolved through clerical and standard script stages into more abstract representations, resulting in the simplified form "龟" that reduces stroke count while retaining a vague silhouette. In modern analysis, the traditional "龜" is typically treated as a non-decomposable pictograph, whereas the simplified "龟" is often described as comprising the components "⺈" and "电", though these are merely graphical conveniences without etymological basis. The core meaning has remained "turtle", but over centuries the character has also been used in extended metaphorical senses, such as denoting slowness or serving as a derogatory term.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这只动物是乌龟。
我看见了一只小乌龟。
乌龟在石头上晒太阳。
他养了一只宠物龟。
乌龟的壳非常坚硬。
这种龟的寿命很长。
他戴着一副玳瑁龟壳眼镜。
车辆像乌龟一样缓慢移动。