Meaning
虎 is the Chinese word for tiger, one of the most important animals in Chinese culture. It symbolizes power, courage, and royalty, and is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The character itself is a pictograph that originally depicted a tiger's stripes and fierce appearance.
Usage
虎 is commonly used in idioms, expressions, and names to convey strength and bravery. It appears in many chengyu (four-character idioms) and is culturally significant during the Year of the Tiger. The word can also describe someone who is fierce or formidable in personality.
Examples
- 01今年是虎年，很多人都生了虎宝宝。, .This year is the Year of the Tiger, and many people had tiger babies.
- 02他在公司里像一只老虎一样凶猛。.He is as fierce as a tiger in the company.
Measure words
- 只一只虎
- 头一头虎
Common collocations
- 老虎tiger (common spoken form)
- 虎年Year of the Tiger
- 纸老虎paper tiger (something that seems threatening but is ineffectual)
- 虎口tiger's mouth; dangerous situation
Antonyms
Origin
The character 虎 is an ancient pictograph depicting a tiger with its distinctive stripes and powerful stance. Oracle bone script versions show a fierce animal with prominent markings, which evolved into the modern form.