Chinese: Words That Are Funny Literally
30 everyday Chinese words built like little puzzles: computer = "electric brain", panda = "bear cat", giraffe = "long-neck deer". Front: English. Back: the Chinese word, pinyin and literal meaning.
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Cards in this deck
#1
Q:Computer
- A:电脑 (diànnǎo) — lit. "electric brain"
#2
Q:Panda
- A:熊猫 (xióngmāo) — lit. "bear cat"
#3
Q:Giraffe
- A:长颈鹿 (chángjǐnglù) — lit. "long-neck deer"
#4
Q:Hippo
- A:河马 (hémǎ) — lit. "river horse"
#5
Q:Turkey (the bird)
- A:火鸡 (huǒjī) — lit. "fire chicken"
#6
Q:Kangaroo
- A:袋鼠 (dàishǔ) — lit. "pouch mouse"
#7
Q:Owl
- A:猫头鹰 (māotóuyīng) — lit. "cat-head eagle"
#8
Q:Squirrel
- A:松鼠 (sōngshǔ) — lit. "pine mouse"
#9
Q:Penguin
- A:企鹅 (qǐ'é) — lit. "standing-on-tiptoe goose"
#10
Q:Seal
- A:海豹 (hǎibào) — lit. "sea leopard"
#11
Q:Platypus
- A:鸭嘴兽 (yāzuǐshòu) — lit. "duck-mouth beast"
#12
Q:Dinosaur
- A:恐龙 (kǒnglóng) — lit. "terror dragon"
#13
Q:Whale
- A:鲸鱼 (jīngyú) — lit. "whale fish" — even though whales aren't fish
#14
Q:Movie
- A:电影 (diànyǐng) — lit. "electric shadow"
#15
Q:Mobile phone
- A:手机 (shǒujī) — lit. "hand machine"
#16
Q:Airplane
- A:飞机 (fēijī) — lit. "flying machine"
#17
Q:Train
- A:火车 (huǒchē) — lit. "fire vehicle"
#18
Q:Bicycle
- A:自行车 (zìxíngchē) — lit. "self-moving vehicle"
#19
Q:Elevator
- A:电梯 (diàntī) — lit. "electric ladder"
#20
Q:Fridge
- A:冰箱 (bīngxiāng) — lit. "ice box"
#21
Q:Television
- A:电视 (diànshì) — lit. "electric vision"
#22
Q:Avocado
- A:牛油果 (niúyóuguǒ) — lit. "butter fruit" (牛油 = butter, lit. "cow oil")
#23
Q:Potato
- A:土豆 (tǔdòu) — lit. "earth bean"
#24
Q:Tomato
- A:西红柿 (xīhóngshì) — lit. "western red persimmon"
#25
Q:Glasses
- A:眼镜 (yǎnjìng) — lit. "eye mirror"
#26
Q:Volcano
- A:火山 (huǒshān) — lit. "fire mountain"
#27
Q:Vampire
- A:吸血鬼 (xīxuèguǐ) — lit. "blood-sucking ghost"
#28
Q:Lipstick
- A:口红 (kǒuhóng) — lit. "mouth red"
#29
Q:Jeans
- A:牛仔裤 (niúzǎikù) — lit. "cowboy trousers"
#30
Q:Hot dog
- A:热狗 (règǒu) — lit. "hot dog" — yes, really