兔

• Pinyin: tù
• Hanzi breakdown: 兔 = pictograph of a rabbit with long ears

Meaning

Rabbit; hare.

The Chinese zodiac animal for certain years. Rabbits symbolize longevity, good luck, and cleverness in Chinese culture. Associated with the Moon (the Jade Rabbit lives there according to legend). The full form 兔子 is more common in speech, while 兔 alone appears in compounds and written contexts.

Examples

1. 她属兔，今年正好是她的本命年。 She was born in the Year of the Rabbit, and this year is her zodiac year.
2. 小朋友们最喜欢去动物园看兔子了。 Children love going to the zoo to see rabbits.
3. 中秋节的传说里，月亮上住着一只玉兔。 In Mid-Autumn Festival legends, a jade rabbit lives on the moon.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, zodiac, folklore

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 兔年出生的人。(People born in the Year of the Rabbit.)
• 小白兔。(Little white rabbit.)

Don't Say

• 那只兔 in casual speech — usually say 那只兔子; 兔 alone is more literary or used in compounds

Origin & History

Pictograph depicting a rabbit with long ears and a short tail.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal