金龙 (jīn lóng) — golden dragon (mythical creature, symbol of power and good fortune); Metal Dragon (17th year in the Chinese sexagenary cycle)

Definition

Literally 'golden dragon,' used both as a mythical symbol of power and good fortune (e.g. festival dragons) and as the name of the 17th year in the sexagenary cycle (the Metal Dragon year).

noun
golden dragon (mythical creature, symbol of power and good fortune)Metal Dragon (17th year in the Chinese sexagenary cycle)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • ，金龙。
    Chūn jié de shí hou, jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō jīn lóng biǎo yǎn.
    During Spring Festival, there are many golden dragon performances on the streets.
  • 金龙，。
    Jīn nián shì jīn lóng nián, hěn duō rén xī wàng yǒu hǎo yùn qì.
    This year is the Metal Dragon year, and many people hope for good luck.
  • 金龙。
    Zhè jiā cān tīng de míng zì jiào jīn lóng.
    This restaurant is called Golden Dragon.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

金jīngold
龙lóngdragon

金 means gold or metal and 龙 means dragon, giving a golden dragon.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

Open 金 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 龍; 龙 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 龍 originally drew a sacred creature with a large mouth and a snake-like body; the simplified 龙 is the form written here.

Open 龙 →

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