Dragon in Chinese
The Chinese word for "dragon" is 龙 (lóng). The Chinese 龙 is an auspicious creature linked to water, rain and imperial power, not the fire-breathing villain of Western stories.
Chinese words for dragon
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 龙 | lóng | dragon | The default answer. |
| 龙年 | lóng nián | Year of the Dragon | The zodiac year of the dragon, which comes round every twelve years. |
| 龙舟 | lóng zhōu | dragon boat | The long racing boats rowed at the Dragon Boat Festival, 端午节. |
| 恶龙 | è lóng | evil dragon | The monster dragon of fairy tales and Western fantasy stories. |
| 恐龙 | kǒng lóng | dinosaur | Dinosaurs, not dragons, despite the 龙; literally 'terrible dragon'. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我是属龙的。 | wǒ shì shǔ lóng de. | I was born in the Year of the Dragon. |
| 端午节人们会赛龙舟。 | duān wǔ jié rén men huì sài lóng zhōu. | People race dragon boats at the Dragon Boat Festival. |
| 孩子们都很喜欢恐龙。 | hái zi men dōu hěn xǐ huan kǒng lóng. | The children all love dinosaurs. |
| 父母都望子成龙。 | fù mǔ dōu wàng zǐ chéng lóng. | All parents hope their children will become a great success. |
The characters in 龙
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 龙 | lóng | dragon, the Chinese loong; traditional form 龍 |
Common mistakes
- Calling someone a 龙 or saying 望子成龙 is praise; the dragon of a Western story who guards gold and burns villages is 恶龙 or 西方龙.
- 恐龙 means dinosaur. A scary dragon is not 恐龙.
- State your zodiac animal with 属: 我属龙 or 我是属龙的. 我是龙 sounds like 'I am a dragon'.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say dragon in Chinese?
龙 (lóng). Other ways: 龙年 (lóng nián); 龙舟 (lóng zhōu); 恶龙 (è lóng).
Is the Chinese dragon good or evil?
Good. 龙 stands for strength, good fortune and authority, and was a symbol of the emperor. Being born in a dragon year is considered lucky.
When is the next Year of the Dragon?
The zodiac repeats every twelve years. 2024 was a dragon year, so the next one is 2036.
GraphChinese teaches these in an order where each word builds on the last, with audio, and only moves on when each one is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level