狐狸 húli fox
fox; figuratively sly and treacherous person
How to remember 狐狸: 狐 fox + 狸 fox = fox.
Characters
How it is used
- The animal fox - 一只狐狸 (yì zhī húli) a fox - but in daily speech almost always figurative for a sly, scheming person.
- 狐狸精 (húlijīng, fox spirit) is a common insult for a seductive woman who lures men; 老狐狸 (lǎo húli) means a wily old operator.
- Note the neutral tone on 狸 (húli, not húlí); the idiom 狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi) = bully others by borrowing a powerful backer's clout.
Example sentences
- 狐狸是野生动物。 Húlí shì yěshēngdòngwù.A fox is a wild animal.
- 这家伙像个狐狸。 Zhè jiāhuo xiàng gè húlí.This guy looks like a fox.
- 猎人射死了狐狸。 Lièrén shèsǐ le húlí.The hunter shot and killed the fox.