Chinese words and idioms associated with the dragon

The dragon, 龙 (lóng), is a supernatural being that has huge eyes, long whiskers, a pair of horns and clawed feet extending from a gigantic snake-like body covered with scales. It is able to dash on the ground, swim in water, and fly in the sky. In a rage, it can call up a storm to rouse the ocean and turn over boats. This is why a tornado is called 龙卷风 (lóngjuǎnfēng dragon whirlwind) in Chinese.

To the Chinese, this fearsome figure symbolizes supreme power, vitality, nobleness, honor, and success. This is why it is prominently featured on the emperor’s robe 龙袍 (lóng páo) and also on the rooftops of palaces and temples. People born in the year of the dragon are said to be endowed with great intelligence, confidence and tenacity. In 2024 they are expected to enjoy increased responsibilities, prosperity, and good fortune. As for the entire world, we will see new opportunities as well as face challenges and conflicts in politics, international relations, and the environment. Hopefully, those in authority will remember the Golden Rule and act accordingly to let the world have the much needed peace.

Understandably, the Chinese character for dragon is found in many words and expressions as well as names for boys. Let’s take a look at some of these terms.

龙王 (lóngwáng) is the powerful Dragon King featured in many Chinese legends and chilcren’s stories. In the novel Journey to the West, there is a Dragon King for each of the Four Seas: Dragon King of the East China Sea 東海龍王 (Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng), Dragon King of the South China Sea 南海龍王(Nánhǎi Lóngwáng), Dragon King of the West China Sea 西海龍王(Xīhǎi Lóngwáng), and Dragon King of the North China Sea 北海龍王 (Běihǎi Lóngwáng).

龙船 (lóngchuán) or 龙舟 (lóngzhōu ) are the dragon boats that participate in the dragon boat race in mid May on the lunar calendar. You can read about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival in Chapter 24 of “Learn Chinese through Songs and Rhymes“. This video on YouTube shows you how to wrap glutinous rice to make the steamed rice dumplings that are customarily eaten on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival.

龙头 (lóngtóu) or 水龙头 (shuǐlóngtóu) refers to the faucet.

龙头老大 (lóngtóu lǎodà) is the leader of a group.

龙头产品 (lóngtóu chǎnpǐn) refers to the leading products.

龙虾 (lóngxiā) are lobsters. 变色龙 (biànsèlóng) are chameleons, and 恐龙 (kǒnglóng) are dinosaurs.

龙眼 (lóngyǎn) is a fruit called longan, which has a thin brown shell and a large seed wrapped in sweet and translucent white flesh.

九龙 (Jiǔlóng) is the place called Kowloon, a district in Hong Kong.

沙龙 (shālóng) is a transliteration of the English word “salon”.

If you play the game of mahjong, occasionally you might get a hand that lets you easily form a straight flush (a sequence of 1 through 9 of a suit), which is referred to as 一条龙 (yītiáo lóng).

Most parents have high expections for their children. Some want their children to become great scientists, some train them to become famous musicians, and some spur their children to study hard and become medial doctors. This is summarized in the Chinese idiom 望子成龙 (wàngzǐchénglóng), i.e. wishing one’s offspring high achievements.

生龙活虎 (shēnglónghuóhǔ) is a phrase describing someone who is lively and energetic.

球场上的队员们個個生龍活虎.
Qiúchǎng shàng de duìyuánmen gè gè shēnglónghuóhǔ.
The players on the court are all in full swing.

车水马龙 (chēshuǐmǎlóng) describes the condition of heavy traffic.

台北市街上有如车水马龙.
Táiběi shìjiē shàng yǒurú chēshuǐmǎlóng.
Taipei city streets are busy with traffic.

乘龙快婿 (chēshuǐmǎlóng) is an excellent son-in-law. This term is normally used in praising someone else’s son-in-law.

希望你早日找到一位乘龙快婿.
Xīwàng nǐ zǎorì zhǎodào yī wèi chēshuǐmǎlóng.
I hope you will soon find an outstanding son-in-law.

群龙无首 (qúnlóngwúshǒu) is a metaphor referring to a group of dragons without a leader.

自从彼得离开后，这个组织就一直群龙无首.
Zìcóng bǐdé líkāi hòu, zhège zǔzhī jiù yīzhí qúnlóngwúshǒu.
Ever since Peter left, the organization has been without a leader.

来龙去脉 (láilóngqùmài) refers to the details that permits one to get the whole story.

他告诉了我这件事的来龙去脉.
Tā gàosùle wǒ zhè jiàn shì de láilóngqùmài.
He told me the whole story.

画龙点睛 (huàlóngdiǎnjīng) is an idom referring to adding the finishing touch. We’ve covered the story behind this idiom in Chapter 28 of “Learn Chinese through Songs and Rhymes“.

加了这一笔, 对这幅华起了画龙点睛的作用.
Jiāle zhè yī bǐ duì zhè fú huá qǐle huàlóngdiǎnjīng de zuòyòng.
The addition of this stroke provided the finishing touch to this painting.

活龙活现 (huólónghuóxiàn) is to be lifelike and realistic (said of an artwork), making the observer feel like watching a living dragon.

这部电影把泰山演得活龙活现.
Zhè bù diànyǐng bǎ tàishān yǎn dé huó lóng huóxiàn.
This movie makes Tarzan come alive.

龙飞凤舞 (lóngfēifèngwǔ) is an idiom used for describing flamboyant handwriting or calligraphy that looks like a flying dragon or a dancing phoenix.

你看得懂这卷轴上龙飞凤舞的书法吗？
Nǐ kàn dé dǒng zhè juànzhóu shàng lóngfēifèngwǔ de shūfǎ ma?
Are you able to read the flamboyant calligraphy on this scroll?

龙争虎斗 (lóngzhēnghǔdòu) and 龙虎相争 (lóng hǔ xiāng zhēng) describe two powerful leaders fighting each other.

龙潭虎穴 (lóng tán hǔ xué) are dragon’s pond and tiger’s lair, namely very dangerous places.

鲤鱼跳龙门 (Lí yú tiào lóng mén) depicts a carp leaping over the dragon’s gate. It refers to an ordinary person’s succeeding in the national exam in feudal China and subsequently attaining a prestigious government position. This theme of good fortune is often featured in Chinese brush paintings and New Year greeting cards.

Have you watched the film titled “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”? 卧虎藏龙 (wòhǔcánglóng) is actually a Chinese idiom that refers to the talents one might have that are hidden from others. Years ago, while I was about to leave the post office of our small town after mailing a package, a tall middle-aged Caucasian man approached me and spoke to me in Chinese. Needless to say, I was taken aback by his perfect pronunciation and intonation. Who would have guessed just by looking at him?

May the Year of the Dragon shower you with vitality and good fortune, and make your dream of speaking fluent Chinese come true!

P.S. 冬天的暴风雨正在外面肆虐. 在我舒适的家里，我想向那些勇敢地面对冰冷危险的道路, 为有需要的人提供援助的医疗和急救人员表示敬意.

Dōngtiān de bàofēngyǔ zhèngzài wàimiàn sìnüè. Zài wǒ shūshì de jiālǐ, wǒ xiǎng xiàng nàxiē yǒnggǎn dì miàn duì bīnglěng wéixiǎn de dàolù, wèi yǒu xūyào de rén tígōng yuánzhù de yīliáo hé jíjiù rényuán biǎoshì jìngyì.

Winter storm is raging outside. In the comfort of my home, I want to give a shoutout to the medical and emergency personnel who brave the icy, hazardous roads to provide aid to those in need.