noun HSK 2
Traditional 動物
animal · creature
Meaning
动物 refers to any living creature in the animal kingdom, from insects to mammals. It's a general term used in both everyday conversation and scientific contexts to distinguish animals from plants (植物) and other life forms.
Usage
This is a common, neutral term used in all registers of speech. It appears frequently in contexts like zoos (动物园), wildlife discussions, biology, and when talking about pets versus wild animals. Often paired with specific animal types or used in compound words.
Examples
- 01我最喜欢的动物是熊猫。.My favorite animal is the panda.
- 02这个动物园里有很多珍稀动物。.This zoo has many rare animals.
Characters
Measure words
- 只一只动物
- 种一种动物
Common collocations
- 动物园zoo
- 野生动物wild animal
- 保护动物to protect animals
- 濒危动物endangered animal
Antonyms
Origin
The word literally means 'moving thing,' which distinguishes animals from plants (植物, 'planted things') that are stationary. This logical composition reflects traditional Chinese categorization of life forms based on observable characteristics.