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March 24, 2026
龙(龍)lóng(Long2)
The character 龙 (lóng) translates to 'dragon,' a significant symbol in Chinese culture representing power, strength, and good fortune. It is often associated with emperors and is considered a benevolent creature in Chinese mythology, unlike the often fearsome dragons in Western cultures.
Strokes5Radical龙Frequency#2043DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the dragon is a symbol of imperial authority and is often featured in festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, which celebrates both the dragon and important historical figures.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dragon soaring through the sky, its body twisting like the character itself. The character 龙 resembles a dragon's long, winding body and fierce claws, helping you remember its pronunciation (lóng) and meaning.
Meanings of 龙
lóng(Long2)
1dragon
2imperial
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 龙
龙Simplified
龍Traditional
5Strokes
龙Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2043Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 龙
Podcast: 龙
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AI Study Notes for 龙
Quick Contrast
龙 (lóng) vs 蛇 (shé) — choose 龙 when referring to the mythical dragon symbolizing power, while 蛇 refers to a snake, which has different connotations.
Usage Notes
In informal contexts, 龙 is often used to denote someone who is powerful or successful. Be careful with its pronunciation; the tone is crucial as 'lóng' in the first tone means dragon, while different tones can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include '龙舟' (dragon boat) and '龙年' (Year of the Dragon).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 龙 connects well with other cultural and mythological vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing its use in idiomatic expressions and cultural references, such as '龙的传人' (descendants of the dragon) when discussing heritage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 龙 (lóng) with other similar-sounding characters like 聋 (lóng, meaning 'deaf'). Another mistake is using an incorrect tone; for example, saying 'lǒng' changes the meaning entirely. Always remember to use the first tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 龙
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Pictograph of a dragon curled up. The simplified character 龙 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 龍.
1The giveawayA dragon
2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 龙? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 龙?
Decomposition of 龙
IDS Structure⿻尤丿
龙Full Character
=
尤You2
outer
丿pie3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 龙?
How to say dragon in Chinese
“dragon” in Chinese is龙lóng
The character 龙 (lóng) translates to 'dragon,' a significant symbol in Chinese culture representing power, strength, and good fortune. It is often associated with emperors and is considered a benevolent creature in Chinese mythology, unlike the often fearsome dragons in Western cultures.
When to use 龙
In informal contexts, 龙 is often used to denote someone who is powerful or successful. Be careful with its pronunciation; the tone is crucial as 'lóng' in the first tone means dragon, while different tones can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include '龙舟' (dragon boat) and '龙年' (Year of the Dragon).
龙 or something close to it
龙 (lóng) vs 蛇 (shé) — choose 龙 when referring to the mythical dragon symbolizing power, while 蛇 refers to a snake, which has different connotations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 龙 (lóng) with other similar-sounding characters like 聋 (lóng, meaning 'deaf'). Another mistake is using an incorrect tone; for example, saying 'lǒng' changes the meaning entirely. Always remember to use the first tone.
Write 龙
龙
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Practice writing 龙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 龙
龙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Southbound traffic tailed back for twenty miles on the M5 near Bristol.
10
恐龙峡谷中的化石都嵌在坚硬的砂岩中。
kǒng lóng xiá gǔ zhōng de huà shí dū qiàn zài jiān yìng de shā yán zhōng。
The fossils at Dinosaur Cove are embedded in hard sandstones.
Cultural Notes for 龙
💡Did you know?
In Chinese mythology, dragons are revered as powerful and benevolent creatures. Unlike in Western cultures, where dragons are often depicted as evil, Chinese dragons are associated with water, rain, and agriculture, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune.
📜Proverb
龙生龙，凤生凤 (Lóng shēng lóng, fèng shēng fèng) - A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix. This means that children often resemble their parents.
龙腾虎跃 (lóng téng hǔ yuè) - Literally 'the dragon soars and the tiger leaps', used to describe a vigorous and dynamic scene.
📜Proverb
画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng) - Literally 'to paint a dragon and dot its eyes', meaning to add the finishing touch that brings something to life.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Chinese culture, the dragon symbolizes power, strength, and good luck, often associated with emperors. In contrast, Western cultures often depict dragons as fearsome beasts to be slain, reflecting a more adversarial view.
Word Family of 龙
Compounds22
袭xi2to attack
宠chong3to love
笼long2basket
庞Pang2surname Pang
咙long2throat
聋long2deaf
拢long3to gather together
胧long2blurry, obscured; the condition or appearance of the moon
垄long3ridge between fields
泷long2raining; wet, soaked; rapids; a river in Guangdong
珑long2the tinkling of jewelry
龛kan1niche, shrine
龚Gong1to give, to present; reverential
陇Long3a mountain located in the Shanxi provice
茏long2tall grass; water-weeds
厐
垅long3grave, mound; furrow, ridge
昽
栊long2cage, pen; grating
眬long2faint, fuzzy, blurry
砻long2millstone; to grind, to mill
詟
Words Containing This Character20
龙lóngdragon龍
恐龙kǒnglóngdinosaur恐龍
龙头faucet龍頭
龙虾lobster龍蝦
飞龙wyvern (type of dragon)飛龍
沙龙shālóngsalon (loanword)沙龍
龙卷风tornado龍捲風
龙年Year of the Dragon (e.g. 2000, 2012, etc)龍年
黑龙江Amur river黑龍江
水龙头shuǐlóngtóufaucet水龍頭
黑龙江省Heilongjiang Province (Heilungkiang) in northeast China, abbr. 黑, capital Harbin 哈爾濱|哈尔滨[Hā'ěrbīn]黑龍江省
成龙to succeed in life成龍
马龙Malong county in Qujing 曲靖[Qǔjìng], Yunnan馬龍
来龙去脉láilóngqùmàicauses and effects來龍去脈
龙虎outstanding people龍虎
龙门Longmen county in Huizhou 惠州[Huìzhōu], Guangdong龍門
李小龙Bruce Lee (1940-1973), Hong Kong actor and martial arts expert李小龍
尼龙nílóngnylon (loanword)尼龍
火龙fiery dragon火龍
一条龙lit. one dragon一條龍
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 袭 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 龙
Common phrases that include 龙 are '龙腾虎跃' (lóng téng hǔ yuè), meaning 'to leap like a dragon and a tiger,' which signifies vigor and vitality. Another is '龙飞凤舞' (lóng fēi fèng wǔ), which describes elegant and lively writing or dance.
The character 龙 holds great significance in Chinese culture as it represents imperial power and authority. Traditionally, the dragon is a symbol of the emperor and is associated with good luck, strength, and protection. It is often depicted in art and festivals.
You can use 龙 in a sentence to refer to dragons in a mythological context, for example: '中国的龙是神圣的' (Zhōngguó de lóng shì shénshèng de), meaning 'The dragon in China is sacred.' Additionally, it can be used in names and expressions related to power or authority.
龙 (lóng) means 'dragon' in Chinese, symbolizing power and strength. It is also used as a surname and has cultural significance in Chinese mythology and folklore. In traditional Chinese culture, dragons are seen as auspicious creatures that bring good fortune.
Make sure to use the first tone when pronouncing 龙 (lóng), which is high and level.
No, 龙 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when referring to qualities like strength or success.
Yes, 龙 is also a common Chinese surname, pronounced the same way.
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