Meanings of 猿
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About 猿
Podcast: 猿
Podcast: 猿
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AI Study Notes for 猿
猩猩 (xīngxing) vs 猿 (yuán): 猩猩 specifically refers to 'orangutan', while 猿 is a more general term for 'ape'.
Learners should be cautious not to confuse 猿 (yuán) with similar animal-related characters like 猫 (māo, cat) or 狗 (gǒu, dog). It is mostly used in written Chinese, so using it in casual conversation might be perceived as formal. Common collocations include phrases like 猿猴 (yuán hóu, ape) or referring to specific species.
While 猿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other animal characters and can be useful for expanding your vocabulary around wildlife. Students should focus on recognizing the radicals and components to differentiate it from similar characters.
A common mistake is confusing 猿 (yuán) with other animal characters, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, using 猿 when referring to a monkey (猴, hóu) would be incorrect and could confuse the listener.
Pronunciation of 猿
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Etymology of 猿
Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 袁 represents the sound. Simplified form of 猨.
animal
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 猿
Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 袁 represents the sound. Simplified form of 猨.
- 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half袁 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayanimal
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 猿? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 猿?
Decomposition of 猿
Identify the Components
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How to say ape in Chinese
“ape” in Chinese is猿
The character 猿 (yuán) means 'ape' and refers specifically to certain types of primates that are characterized by their long arms and lack of tails. It is often used in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife, particularly in relation to evolution and nature. In everyday conversation, it may appear less frequently unless discussing animals or specific cultural references.
When to use 猿
Learners should be cautious not to confuse 猿 (yuán) with similar animal-related characters like 猫 (māo, cat) or 狗 (gǒu, dog). It is mostly used in written Chinese, so using it in casual conversation might be perceived as formal. Common collocations include phrases like 猿猴 (yuán hóu, ape) or referring to specific species.
猿 or something close to it
猩猩 (xīngxing) vs 猿 (yuán): 猩猩 specifically refers to 'orangutan', while 猿 is a more general term for 'ape'.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is confusing 猿 (yuán) with other animal characters, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, using 猿 when referring to a monkey (猴, hóu) would be incorrect and could confuse the listener.
Write 猿
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Practice writing 猿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 猿
猿 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
埃达有一张布满皱纹、长得像____猴的脸。
Ada had a wrinkled, simian face.
Example Sentences for 猿 (1)
Word Family of 猿
Compound Meaning
What does 猿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 猿
The pronunciation is 'yuán' with a rising tone, similar to how you might say 'yearn'.
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