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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "chameleon" in Chinese?
变色龙
biàn sè lóng
In Chinese, "chameleon" is 变色龙 (biàn sè lóng).
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Pronunciation
Aim for "biàn sè lóng" when you say it, "biàn" is falling fast and sharp, like a command (tone 4); "sè" is falling fast and sharp, like a command (tone 4), and finally "lóng" is rising sharply like a question (tone 2).
Writing and usage
变色龙 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
变色龙变色以匹配树枝。
biàn sè lóng biàn sè yǐ pǐ pèi shù zhī 。
The chameleon changed colour to match the branch.
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How to remember 变色龙
Say "biàn sè lóng" out loud three times fast — the repetition alone tends to cement "变色龙" (biàn sè lóng) in memory.
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 变色龙
How do you pronounce 变色龙?
Aim for "biàn sè lóng" when you say it, "biàn" is falling fast and sharp, like a command (tone 4); "sè" is falling fast and sharp, like a command (tone 4), and finally "lóng" is rising sharply like a question (tone 2).
Is 变色龙 formal or casual?
变色龙 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 变色龙 used in Chinese?
变色龙 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 变色龙变色以匹配树枝。 (The chameleon changed colour to match the branch.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"Chameleon" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
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