Pets
beginner宠物
Learn vocabulary for talking about pets, caring for animals, visiting the vet, and understanding pet culture in modern China.
37 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
37 words — click any row for an example sentence
Animals
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 宠物 | chǒngwù | pet | noun |
| 狗 | gǒu | dog | noun |
| 猫 | māo | cat | noun |
| 金鱼 | jīnyú | goldfish | noun |
| 仓鼠 | cāngsǔ | hamster | noun |
| 兔子 | tùzi | rabbit | noun |
| 小鸟 | xiǎoniǎo | small bird | noun |
| 乌龟 | wūguī | turtle; tortoise | noun |
Care
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 养 | yǎng | to raise; to keep (a pet) | verb |
| 喂 | wèi | to feed | verb |
| 遛狗 | liù gǒu | to walk the dog | verb |
| 洗澡 | xǐzǎo | to bathe; to give a bath | verb |
| 宠物医院 | chǒngwù yīyuàn | pet hospital; veterinary clinic | noun |
| 疫苗 | yìmiáo | vaccine | noun |
| 绝育 | juéyù | to spay or neuter; sterilization | verb |
| 生病 | shēngbìng | to get sick; to fall ill | verb |
| 训练 | xùnliàn | to train | verb |
Supplies
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 狗粮 | gǒuliáng | dog food | noun |
| 猫粮 | māoliáng | cat food | noun |
| 猫砂 | māoshā | cat litter | noun |
| 笼子 | lóngzi | cage | noun |
| 玩具 | wánjù | toy | noun |
| 牵引绳 | qiānyǐn shéng | leash | noun |
| 猫抓板 | māo zhuā bǎn | cat scratching board | noun |
| 鱼缸 | yúgāng | fish tank; aquarium | noun |
| 宠物店 | chǒngwù diàn | pet store; pet shop | noun |
Description
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 可爱 | kě'ài | cute; adorable | adjective |
| 乖 | guāi | well-behaved; obedient | adjective |
| 调皮 | tiáopí | naughty; mischievous | adjective |
| 听话 | tīnghuà | obedient; well-behaved (listens well) | adjective |
| 毛 | máo | fur; hair (of an animal) | noun |
| 叫 | jiào | to bark; to meow; to make a sound | verb |
| 品种 | pǐnzhǒng | breed; variety | noun |
| 流浪 | liúlàng | stray; to wander | adjective |
| 领养 | lǐngyǎng | to adopt (a pet) | verb |
| 掉毛 | diào máo | to shed fur | verb |
| 铲屎官 | chǎn shǐ guān | pet owner (humorous: "poop-scooping officer") | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
你家养宠物吗？
Nǐ jiā yǎng chǒngwù ma?
Does your family have pets?
A common conversation starter about pets.
它叫什么名字？
Tā jiào shénme míngzi?
What is its name?
Asking about a pet's name when meeting someone's pet.
我可以摸一下吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ mō yíxià ma?
May I pet it?
Asking permission before touching someone's pet.
遛狗的时候要系牵引绳。
Liù gǒu de shíhou yào jì qiānyǐn shéng.
You should use a leash when walking the dog.
Reminding someone about leash rules in residential areas.
猫粮吃完了，我去买一袋。
Māoliáng chī wán le, wǒ qù mǎi yí dài.
The cat food is all gone. I will go buy a bag.
Talking about restocking pet supplies.
该带狗去打疫苗了。
Gāi dài gǒu qù dǎ yìmiáo le.
It is time to take the dog for its vaccination.
Discussing regular veterinary care.
你的猫是什么品种的？
Nǐ de māo shì shénme pǐnzhǒng de?
What breed is your cat?
Asking about an animal's breed.
我家的狗特别怕打雷。
Wǒ jiā de gǒu tèbié pà dǎléi.
My dog is especially afraid of thunder.
Describing a pet's personality or behavior.
以领养代替购买。
Yǐ lǐngyǎng dàitì gòumǎi.
Adopt, don't shop.
A popular slogan promoting pet adoption in China.
小区里不能养大型犬。
Xiǎoqū lǐ bù néng yǎng dàxíng quǎn.
Large dogs are not allowed in the residential compound.
Discussing pet regulations in Chinese communities.
我出差的时候朋友帮我照顾猫。
Wǒ chūchāi de shíhou péngyou bāng wǒ zhàogù māo.
When I am on a business trip, my friend helps take care of my cat.
Talking about pet care arrangements while traveling.
这只小狗是领养的还是买的？
Zhè zhī xiǎo gǒu shì lǐngyǎng de háishi mǎi de?
Was this puppy adopted or purchased?
Asking about how someone got their pet.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Visiting the Pet Hospital
A pet owner brings their cat to the veterinary clinic because it has not been eating well. The vet examines the cat and gives advice.
Speaker A
医生你好，我的猫这两天不太吃东西，我有点担心。
Speaker B
好的，我先给它检查一下。它多大了？打过疫苗吗？
Speaker A
一岁半，疫苗都打全了。平时很活泼，这几天突然没精神了。
Speaker B
检查完了，问题不大。它有点消化不良，可能吃了不该吃的东西。
Speaker A
啊，那需要吃药吗？
Speaker B
我给它开点药，一天喂两次。然后这几天先喂容易消化的猫粮，观察两三天应该就好了。
Speaker A
好的，谢谢医生。看病加药一共多少钱？
Speaker B
检查费加上药费一共两百八。如果三天还没好的话再带过来。
Cultural note: Pet healthcare costs in China vary widely. Private pet hospitals in major cities can be expensive, and there is no standardized pet insurance system. Many pet owners share vet recommendations and price comparisons in online communities and WeChat groups.
Meeting a Neighbor While Walking the Dog
Two neighbors meet while walking their dogs in the residential compound. They chat about their pets and discuss dog care.
Speaker A
哇，你家的狗好可爱！是什么品种的？
Speaker B
它是柯基犬，叫豆豆。你家这只是金毛吗？
Speaker A
对，叫旺财。它特别温柔，不会咬人，你可以摸它。
Speaker B
真乖！你每天都这个时候遛狗吗？
Speaker A
对，早晚各遛一次。金毛运动量大，不遛的话在家会拆家。
Speaker B
哈哈，柯基也是。对了，你知道附近哪家宠物医院比较好吗？豆豆该打疫苗了。
Speaker A
小区东门那家不错，医生很专业，价格也合理。我每次都带旺财去那里。
Speaker B
太好了，谢谢推荐！下次遛狗的时候再聊。
Cultural note: Chinese pet names are often playful and sometimes humorous. Common dog names include 旺财 (Wàngcái, "Prosperous Wealth"), 豆豆 (Dòudou, "Little Bean"), and 毛毛 (Máomao, "Furry"). The term 拆家 (chāi jiā, "tear up the house") is a popular internet slang among Chinese dog owners describing destructive behavior.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Pets Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
10 of 37 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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