龟
guī · tortoise💡 How to pronounce
g → like the 'g' in 'go'. uī → like 'way' with a high flat tone.
📖 The Story
龟 is the tortoise — one of the oldest and most respected animals in Chinese culture. The tortoise carries the world on its back and represents longevity, wisdom, and stability. Ancient Chinese used tortoise shells for divination.
🎬 In Culture Today
The tortoise is one of the four sacred animals in Chinese mythology. The Black Tortoise (玄武) is the guardian of the north. The phrase '龟年鹤寿' (guī nián hè shòu) means 'longevity like a tortoise and a crane'.
📚 Words
📝 Example Sentences
乌龟很长寿。
Tortoises are very long-lived.
海龟生活在海洋中。
Sea turtles live in the ocean.