海豚 (hǎitún) · dolphin

Measure Word

一只海豚 zhī

Meanings

1 dolphin

Characters

Literally 'sea pig' - an ancient name based on the dolphin's rounded body shape.

Examples

HSK 2

海豚喜欢跟人玩。

Hǎitún xǐhuan gēn rén wán.

Dolphins like to play with people.

HSK 3

海豚是很聪明的动物。

Hǎitún shì hěn cōngming de dòngwù.

Dolphins are very intelligent animals.

HSK 3

我们在海里看到了海豚。

Wǒmen zài hǎi lǐ kàndào le hǎitún.

We saw dolphins in the sea.

Tips

memory

海 (sea) + 豚 (piglet) = 'sea piglet.' German has a similar etymology: Schweinswal (swine whale) for porpoise.

Stroke Order

海 hǎi

豚 tún

Related Words

海滩 hǎitān HSK 7-9 #2,227

beach / seashore

海盗 hǎidào HSK 7-9 #2,521

pirate / sea pirate

海军 hǎijūn HSK 7-9 #2,345

navy; naval forces

海报 hǎibào HSK 7-9 #6,043

poster; placard; bill

海湾 hǎiwān HSK 7-9 #6,511

gulf; bay; inlet

脑海 nǎohǎi HSK 7-9 #4,469

mind / brain / memory

真海豚 zhēnhǎitún

common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) / short-beaked common dolphin

海绵 hǎimián HSK 7-9 #10,202

sponge / sea sponge / foam

航海 hánghǎi HSK 7-9 #10,853

maritime navigation / seafaring / to sail the seas

海滨 hǎibīn HSK 7-9 #11,751

shore / seaside / seashore