熊

Meaning of 熊

熊 (xióng) is the bear — a symbol of courage and protective strength. The giant panda (大熊猫) is literally the "great bear-cat," China's most beloved animal ambassador.

To say Bear in Chinese, pronounce 熊 as Xióng. The marks over the letters show the tones — the pitch contour that distinguishes Mandarin syllables.