Definition
龟 (guī) is the general term for turtles and tortoises, used in formal and compound contexts (e.g., 海龟 'sea turtle'). 乌龟 (wū guī) specifically refers to the Chinese softshell turtle but is also the everyday word for tortoise; it can carry a slang meaning ('cuckold') that 龟 does not.
noun
tortoiseturtle
Easily confused
- 电diànlook-alike(noun) electricity; electric power
- 鬼guǐsound-alike(noun) ghost, spirit; demon, devil
- 七qīlook-alikeseven
- 归guīsound-aliketo return, to go back
- 是shìlook-aliketo be (linking verb, followed by a noun or noun phrase)
- 贵guìsound-alikeexpensive
- 跪guìsound-aliketo kneel
Examples
- 龟,。Wǒ yǎng le yì zhī guī, tā hěn kě'ài.I raised a turtle; it's very cute.
- 龟。guī shì cháng shòu de xiàng zhēng.The tortoise is a symbol of longevity.
- 龟。Hǎi guī bǐ lù guī dà hěn duō.Sea turtles are much larger than land tortoises.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.