狮子

Meaning of 狮子

狮子 (shīzi) is the lion — not native to China but known since antiquity through Silk Road contact. Stone lions (石狮子) guard temple and palace gates as symbols of protection.

To say Lion in Chinese, pronounce 狮子 as Shī zi. The marks over the letters show the tones — the pitch contour that distinguishes Mandarin syllables.