动物
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)Old HSK 3
动物 (dòngwù) · animal
动物 (dòngwù) means “animal”. It is written with 2 characters: 动 (to move) + 物 (thing). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 动物 is built
The characters
动 dòng · to move
What 动 is made of
- 云yún — cloud
- 二 — two strokes
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 厶sī — private
- 二 — two strokes
- 力lì — strength
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: strength (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
物 wù · thing
What 物 is made of
- 牛niú — ox
- 勿wù — must not
- 勹bāo — wrap shape
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 勹bāo — wrap shape
Origin hint: 牛 gives the meaning, 勿 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
我喜欢小动物。Wǒ xǐhuan xiǎo dòngwù.I like small animals.
你最喜欢什么动物？Nǐ zuì xǐhuan shénme dòngwù?What's your favourite animal?
Questions about 动物
What does 动物 mean?
动物 (dòngwù) means “animal”.
How do you pronounce 动物?
动物 is pronounced dòngwù.
Which HSK level is 动物?
动物 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 3.
Related words
- 动作dòngzuòaction
- 动物园dòngwùyuánzoo
- 感动gǎndòngto move (emotionally)
- 活动huódòngactivity
- 行动xíngdòngaction
- 运动yùndòngsports
- 带动dàidòngto drive
- 动力dònglìmotivation
- 动人dòngrénmoving
- 发动fādòngto start (an engine)
Learn 动物 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 58: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.