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

海豚是很聪明的动物。

Hǎitún shì hěn cōngming de dòngwù.

Dolphins are very intelligent animals.

我们在海里看到了海豚。

Wǒmen zài hǎilǐ kàndào le hǎitún.

We saw dolphins in the sea.

海豚喜欢跟人玩。

Hǎitún xǐhuan gēn rén wán.

Dolphins like to play with people.

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

真海豚 zhēnhǎitún

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

海滩 hǎitān HSK 7-9 #2,227

Helen (name) / Heron (as in Heron's formula)

海边 hǎibiān HSK 2 #4,467

seaside / beach

海洋 hǎiyáng HSK 6 #4,338

ocean; sea / the oceans (collectively)

海岸 hǎiàn HSK 7-9 #3,057

coast / seashore / shoreline

海盗 hǎidào HSK 7-9 #2,521

pirate / sea pirate

海上 hǎishàng #5,650

at sea / on the sea / maritime

海军 hǎijūn HSK 6 #2,345

navy; naval forces