Tiger in Chinese
The Chinese word for tiger is 虎 (hǔ). Courage and power; bold in expressive brush styles.
hǔ
Tiger
What 虎 means.
The tiger is the king of beasts in China (百兽之王), a guardian against evil, and one of the twelve zodiac animals. The markings on a tiger’s forehead are said to form the character 王, “king”.
- 虎
- tiger
Simplified and traditional
虎
虎
虎 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
About tiger in Chinese
How do you write tiger in Chinese?
Tiger is 虎 in Chinese, pronounced hǔ. Tiger
How do you pronounce 虎?
Say hǔ (third tone, dipping). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 虎 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 虎 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Is 虎 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. As a single character it works even at small sizes. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.