老鼠 lǎoshǔ rat
rat; mouse
How to remember 老鼠: 老 old + 鼠 rat = rat.
Characters
How it is used
- A rat / mouse - 老鼠怕猫 (lǎoshǔ pà māo) mice fear cats.
- Covers both rat and mouse (size unspecified); measure word 只 (zhī). The 老 here is just a fixed prefix, not 'old'.
- Everyday register.
Example sentences
- 猫抓住了老鼠。 Māo zhuāzhù le lǎoshǔ.The cat caught a mouse.
- 这只猫不抓老鼠。 Zhè zhǐ māo bù zhuā lǎoshǔ.This cat doesn't chase mice.
- 老鼠是胆小的生物。 Lǎoshǔ shì dǎnxiǎo de shēngwù.A mouse is a timid creature.