鼠 (shǔ) - Rat — the first animal in the Chinese & rodent

鼠Tone 3

shǔ ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

姝树

鼠 · shǔ

Rat — the first animal in the Chinese zodiac;

rodent;

mouse;

also used metaphorically for someone cunning or stealthy.

Rat — the first animal in the Chineserodentmouse

Usage highlights

Rat zodiacMouseRat yearRat poisonRat trapField mouse

Synonyms

  • 老鼠— mouse; rat (common term)
  • 耗子— rat (colloquial)

Antonyms

  • 猫— cat (natural predator)
  • 象— elephant (large animal contrast)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The rat is the first zodiac animal (生肖鼠).
  • I saw a mouse in the kitchen (厨房里的老鼠).
  • He has the personality of a rat (鼠性).
  • Rat poison is used for pest control (老鼠药).

Collocations

  • Rat zodiac(鼠生肖)
  • Mouse(老鼠)
  • Rat year(鼠年)
  • Rat poison(老鼠药)
  • Rat trap(捕鼠器)
  • Field mouse(田鼠)

Idioms

  • Short-sighted like a rat(鼠目寸光)
  • A rat crossing the street, everyone shouts 'Kill it!'(过街老鼠，人人喊打)
  • The first of the zodiac animals(鼠为生肖之首)
  • A rat in a barn(仓鼠)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese zodiac, the Rat is first, symbolizing intelligence, adaptability, and wealth.
  • Rats are often seen as clever but also sneaky or thieving in folklore.
  • The story of the Great Race explains why Rat is first: it rode on the Ox and jumped ahead at the finish line.

FAQ