海龙
hǎi lóng
Sea dragon · trad. 海龍
海龙 (hǎilóng) is the general term for a "sea dragon" in Mandarin Chinese. It can refer to the mythical creature that rules the seas in folklore, or to the actual marine animals (like pipefishes and seadragons) that are related to seahorses.
When to use it
Neutral. It's a descriptive noun. The specific meaning often depends on the context, whether it's about mythology or marine biology.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "HIGH-long." The first syllable 海 (hǎi) is a dipping third tone, and 龙 (lóng) is a rising second tone.
Other ways to say it
- 龙王lóng wángDragon King (a mythical ruler of the sea)
- 叶海龙yè hǎi lóngleafy sea dragon (a specific type of marine animal)
- 海马hǎi mǎseahorse (a related marine animal)
Examples
海龙是一种美丽的海洋动物。
hǎi lóng shì yì zhǒng měi lì de hǎi yáng dòng wù 。
The sea dragon is a beautiful marine animal.
传说中，龙王住在海底龙宫。
chuán shuō zhōng ， lóng wáng zhù zài hǎi dǐ lóng gōng 。
In legends, the Dragon King lives in an underwater dragon palace.
我在水族馆看到了海龙。
wǒ zài shuǐ zú guǎn kàn dào le hǎi lóng 。
I saw a sea dragon at the aquarium.
Pro tip: Be aware that 海龙 can refer to both a mythical creature and a real marine animal. If you mean the powerful mythical ruler of the sea, 龙王 (lóngwáng) is often more specific.
Related phrases
龙 · Dragon饺子 · Dumpling金龙 · Gold dragon
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