noun HSK 3
tiger
Meaning
老虎 is the common Mandarin word for tiger, the large striped feline. The word combines 老 (old) as a prefix often used with animal names, and 虎 (tiger). Tigers hold significant cultural symbolism in Chinese culture, representing power, courage, and protection.
Usage
This is the everyday word for tiger used in all contexts. In classical Chinese or formal contexts, 虎 alone may be used. The word appears frequently in idioms and expressions related to power or fierceness. Children's stories often use 大老虎 (big tiger) for emphasis.
Examples
- 01动物园里的老虎正在睡觉。.The tiger in the zoo is sleeping.
- 02他看起来很凶，其实是只纸老虎。, .He looks fierce, but he's actually a paper tiger.
Characters
Measure words
- 只一只老虎
- 头两头老虎
Common collocations
- 纸老虎paper tiger (something that seems threatening but is ineffectual)
- 老虎屁股摸不得can't touch a tiger's bottom (don't provoke dangerous people)
- 如虎添翼like a tiger with wings (with added power)
- 虎口tiger's mouth; jaws of death
Origin
老 (old) is a common prefix attached to animal names in Chinese, conveying familiarity or respect. 虎 has been the word for tiger since ancient times, with oracle bone script showing a pictographic representation of the animal.