老虎 lǎohǔ tiger
How to remember 老虎: 老 old + 虎 tiger = tiger.
Characters
How it is used
- A tiger - 一只老虎 (yì zhī lǎohǔ) a tiger.
- 老 here is a prefix (as in 老鼠 mouse, 老鹰 eagle), not 'old'; the animal word is 虎.
- 纸老虎 (zhǐ lǎohǔ) = 'paper tiger', something that looks fierce but is powerless. Measure word 只.
Example sentences
- 这不是老虎。 Zhè búshì lǎohǔ.This isn't a tiger.
- 老虎吃什么东西？ Lǎohǔ chī shénme dōngxī?What do tigers eat?
- 动物园里有一只老虎。 Dòngwùyuán lǐ yǒu yī zhī lǎohǔ.There is a tiger in the zoo.