龟

• 拼音: guī
• 汉字拆解: 龟 = pictograph of a tortoise, showing the domed shell and legs viewed from the side

含义

Turtle; tortoise. A reptile with a hard protective shell, widely regarded in Chinese culture as a symbol of longevity and cosmic order.

In Chinese culture, the tortoise is one of the Four Sacred Creatures, symbolising longevity, stability, and cosmic order. However, in modern colloquial Mandarin, 乌龟 can carry mildly offensive connotations. Context determines tone — formal and literary uses retain the noble symbolic meaning.

例句

1. 博物馆里展出了一块刻有甲骨文的千年龟甲。
2. 中国古代文化中，龟被视为长寿与智慧的象征。
3. 孩子们在水边看到一只小龟缓缓爬过石头。

用法指南

语境: biology, culture, symbolism, history

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 龟在古代被视为神物，背负着传递天地信息、占卜吉凶的神圣使命。(The tortoise was regarded as a sacred creature in ancient times, bearing the divine mission of conveying cosmic messages and foretelling omens.)
• 考古出土的龟甲上刻有早期商代文字，是研究汉字起源的珍贵资料。(The tortoise shells unearthed by archaeologists bear early Shang dynasty inscriptions, serving as precious material for studying the origins of Chinese characters.)

错误说法

• 你真是个龟 — 乌龟 carries offensive connotations in colloquial speech when directed at a person; avoid unless context is clearly neutral; use 懦夫 for coward if that is the intended meaning

起源与历史

A pictographic character originally depicting a tortoise viewed from the side. One of the most ancient Chinese characters, appearing in oracle bone script. The image captures the domed shell, head, and legs of the animal.

文化背景

时代: Ancient to present

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal