红龙
hóng lóng
Dragon red · trad. 紅龍
红龙 (hóng lóng) literally means "red dragon." In Chinese culture, dragons are powerful symbols of strength, good fortune, and imperial power, while red signifies happiness, prosperity, and celebration. A "red dragon" therefore combines these highly auspicious meanings, often appearing in art, festivals, and folklore.
When to use it
Neutral and descriptive. It's a straightforward term. There aren't direct formal or casual alternatives for the phrase itself, but "龙" (dragon) or "红色" (red color) can be used when referring to the individual components.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "hong-LONG." Both syllables have a rising tone (second tone). The "h" in "hong" is a breathy sound, similar to the "h" in "hello."
Other ways to say it
- 龙lóngdragon
- 红色hóng sèred color
- 祥龙xiáng lóngauspicious dragon (often implies red)
Examples
这是一条红龙的图案。
zhè shì yì tiáo hóng lóng de tú àn 。
This is a pattern of a red dragon.
红龙在中国文化中非常重要。
hóng lóng zài zhōng guó wén huà zhōng fēi cháng zhòng yào 。
Red dragons are very important in Chinese culture.
庙里有一尊红龙雕塑。
miào lǐ yǒu yì zūn hóng lóng diāo sù 。
There is a red dragon sculpture in the temple.
Pro tip: Remember that in Chinese, the color adjective usually comes before the noun it describes. So, it's "red dragon" (红龙), not "dragon red." This is a common structure for describing things with colors.
Related phrases
龙 · Dragon饺子 · Dumpling金龙 · Gold dragon
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