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March 24, 2026
老鼠lǎoshǔ(lao3shu3)
老鼠 (lǎo shǔ) refers to a rat or mouse, commonly used to denote small rodents in general. It can be used in various contexts, such as discussing pets, pests, or even in idiomatic expressions. The term carries a neutral connotation but can imply cleverness or sneakiness in certain contexts.
Frequency#2041DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the rat is the first animal in the Zodiac, symbolizing cleverness and resourcefulness. This connection emphasizes the significance of rats in folklore and as symbols of wealth and fertility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old mouse (老, lǎo) wearing glasses, peeking out from a hole. The '老' (old) signifies its wisdom, while '鼠' (shǔ) sounds like 'shoe', so picture it wearing tiny shoes as it scurries around, making it memorable.
Meanings of 老鼠
lǎoshǔ(lao3shu3)
1rat
2mouse
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About 老鼠
老鼠Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2041Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 老鼠
Podcast: 老鼠
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AI Study Notes for 老鼠
Quick Contrast
鼠 (shǔ) refers specifically to the rat or mouse as a species, while 老鼠 (lǎoshǔ) is more colloquial and can imply familiarity or smallness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise old mouse (老, lǎo) wearing glasses, peeking out from a hole. The '老' (old) signifies its wisdom, while '鼠' (shǔ) sounds like 'shoe', so picture it wearing tiny shoes as it scurries around, making it memorable.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; '老鼠' must be pronounced with the correct third tone (lǎo shǔ) to avoid confusion with other words. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts but may be more prevalent in casual conversations. collocations include '捕老鼠' (catching mice) or '老鼠药' (mouse poison).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 老鼠 connects to vocabulary related to animals and household items. Students should practice using it in sentences to describe situations involving these creatures, such as pests in homes or in nature.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the rat is the first animal in the Zodiac, symbolizing cleverness and resourcefulness. This connection emphasizes the significance of rats in folklore and as symbols of wealth and fertility.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse the tones and pronounce it as 'lao4 shu3' instead of 'lao3 shu3', which changes the meaning. Additionally, using '鼠' alone without context may lead to misunderstandings, as it lacks the specificity of '老鼠'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 老鼠
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Grammar Patterns of 老鼠
老鼠 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). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
在他看来，这是个猫捉____的把戏，而我就是老鼠。
It's a cat-and-mouse game to him, and I'm the mouse.
Example Sentences for 老鼠 (10)
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1
在他看来，这是个猫捉老鼠的把戏，而我就是老鼠。
zài tā kàn lái， ， zhè shì gè māo zhuō lǎo shǔ de bǎ， xì ， ér wǒ jiù shì。
It's a cat-and-mouse game to him, and I'm the mouse.
2
奶酪是引诱老鼠上钩的极好的东西.
nǎi lào shì yǐn yòu lǎo shǔ shàng gōu de jí hǎo de dōng xī.
Cheese is very good for luring a mouse into a trap.
3
窝里有8只还没长毛、眼睛尚未睁开的小老鼠。
wō lǐ yǒu8 8 zhī huán méi cháng、 máo 、 yǎn jīng shàng wèi zhēng kāi de xiǎo。
The nest contained eight little mice that were naked and blind.
4
铊的非放射性形态不是用于制造老鼠药吗？
tā de fēi fàng shè xìng xíng tài bù shì yòng yú zhì zào lǎo shǔ yào ma？
Isn't the nonradioactive form of thallium used for rat poison?.
5
你听到老鼠吱吱叫 吗 ?
nǐ tīng dào lǎo shǔ zhī zhī jiào?
Can you hear the mice squeaking?
6
对他说来，就是一场猫捉老鼠的游戏。
duì tā shuō lái， ， jiù shì yī cháng māo zhuō lǎo shǔ de yóu。
It's a cat-and-mouse game to him.
7
猫向老鼠扑去.
māo xiàng lǎo shǔ pū qù.
The cat flew at the mouse.
8
注意看那只猫正悄悄地接近老鼠.
zhù yì kàn nà zhī māo zhèng qiǎo qiǎo dì jiē jìn lǎo shǔ.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw two rats.
Cultural Notes for 老鼠
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the rat is the first animal in the Zodiac, symbolizing cleverness and resourcefulness. This connection emphasizes the significance of rats in folklore and as symbols of wealth and fertility.
Frequently Asked Questions about 老鼠
You can say '我有一只宠物老鼠' (wǒ yǒu yī zhī chǒngwù lǎoshǔ).
老鼠 specifically refers to a rat or mouse, while 鼠 (shǔ) can refer to the animal in a more general sense or in the context of the Zodiac.
Yes, 老鼠 can be used broadly for small rodents, but context matters; for specific types, other terms may be more appropriate.
