狮子

• Pinyin: shī zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 狮 = 犭(dog/animal radical) + 师 (phonetic); 子 = child/nominal suffix

Meaning

Lion. The large carnivorous big cat native to Africa and parts of Asia.

In Chinese culture, 狮子 is a symbol of power, courage, and auspiciousness. Stone lion statues (石狮子) guard the entrances of traditional buildings, temples, and government offices. The lion dance (舞狮) is performed during festivals to ward off evil and bring good luck. Common phrase: 狮子大开口 (lion opens its mouth wide) — to demand an exorbitant price.

Examples

1. 雄狮一声低沉的咆哮在夜间草原上回荡，附近的斑马群立刻警觉地聚拢在一起，提高戒备。 A male lion’s low roar echoed across the grassland at night, and the nearby herd of zebras immediately huddled together on alert.
2. 中国传统建筑门前常见一对石狮子，左雄右雌，象征守护与吉祥。 In traditional Chinese architecture, a pair of stone lions is often placed in front of buildings—a male on the left and a female on the right—symbolizing protection and good fortune.
3. 谈判对方开口就要求占股百分之六十，这种狮子大开口的态度让合作方当场拂袖而去。 The other side came in demanding 60% of the shares; that kind of outrageous opening demand made the partner storm off on the spot.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, culture, idioms, architecture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 纪录片详细记录了非洲草原上一头母狮独自抚养三只幼崽的艰辛历程，令无数观众深受感动。(The documentary meticulously recorded the arduous journey of a lioness on the African savannah raising three cubs on her own, deeply moving countless viewers.)
• 他开价八百万元收购那幅古画，在场的买家都觉得这是狮子大开口，当场表示无法接受这一报价。(He quoted eight million yuan to purchase the ancient painting; all the buyers present felt this was an outrageous ask and immediately stated they could not accept the price.)

Don't Say

• 狮子 when referring to tigers or other big cats — 老虎 is tiger; the two are frequently confused by beginners but are entirely distinct animals with different cultural associations

Origin & History

狮 (lion — phonetic loan from Sanskrit 'siṃha' via Persian) + 子 (nominal suffix)

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal