灰姑娘

Huīgūniang

noun #8,814

Meanings

1 Cinderella
2 a Cinderella figure; someone who rises from humble beginnings

Characters

ash; gray; dust

mother; girl; young woman

Ash + girl - the cinder girl, i.e. Cinderella. 姑娘 means 'girl' or 'young woman.'

Examples

HSK 4

灰姑娘是很多孩子最喜欢的童话故事。

Huīgūniang shì hěnduō háizi zuì xǐhuan de tónghuà gùshi.

Cinderella is many children's favorite fairy tale.

HSK 5

这是一个现代版的灰姑娘故事。

Zhè shì yīgè xiàndài bǎn de Huīgūniang gùshi.

This is a modern version of the Cinderella story.

HSK 7-9

她像灰姑娘一样嫁给了王子。

Tā xiàng Huīgūniang yīyàng jià gěi le wángzǐ.

She married a prince just like Cinderella.

Tips

usage

灰姑娘 is used both as the fairy tale name and as a metaphor for a rags-to-riches transformation: 灰姑娘故事 (Cinderella story). The literal translation 'ash girl' mirrors the original meaning of 'Cinderella' (cinder + ella).

Stroke Order

灰 huī

姑 gū

娘 niáng