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A1 noun #3,000 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

老鼠

laoshu Top 3,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces 老鼠 en 30 secondes

Explication 老鼠 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that '老鼠' means mouse. You should be able to identify it in pictures and use it with the basic measure word '只'. You might use it in simple sentences like '这是一只老鼠' (This is a mouse) or '老鼠很小' (The mouse is small). The focus is on basic identification and the most common measure word. You should also recognize it as the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac if you are learning about Chinese culture. At this stage, don't worry about the difference between a rat and a mouse; '老鼠' covers both perfectly for your needs. You should also learn that it's a common 'bad' animal in simple stories, often being chased by a '猫' (cat).

At the A2 level, you should start using '老鼠' in more descriptive sentences. You can talk about what the mouse is doing, such as '老鼠在吃东西' (The mouse is eating) or '老鼠跑了' (The mouse ran away). You should also be able to express simple feelings about the animal, like '我怕老鼠' (I am afraid of mice). You will begin to see '老鼠' in more complex phrases like '小老鼠' (little mouse) and '大老鼠' (big rat/mouse). You should also learn the word '鼠标' (shǔbiāo) for computer mouse at this level to avoid confusion, as you'll likely be using computers in a Chinese-speaking environment. Understanding the basic 'SVO' (Subject-Verb-Object) structure with '老鼠' is the goal here.

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At the B1 level, you are expected to handle '老鼠' in a variety of grammatical structures. This includes the 'Ba' (把) and 'Bei' (被) constructions, which are essential for describing actions. For example, '猫把老鼠抓住了' (The cat caught the mouse) or '老鼠被赶走了' (The mouse was driven away). You should also be familiar with common colloquialisms like '耗子' (hàozi) and understand that it's a synonym used in many parts of China. You might start encountering '老鼠' in more complex stories or news reports about public health or urban issues. You should also be able to describe the mouse's characteristics using more varied adjectives like '讨厌' (annoying), '狡猾' (cunning), or '胆小' (timid).

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At the B2 level, you should understand the metaphorical uses of '老鼠'. You will encounter idioms like '胆小如鼠' (as timid as a mouse) to describe a person's character. You should be able to discuss the cultural significance of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac in more detail, explaining why it is the first animal (the legend of the race). You can also use '老鼠' in more technical or social discussions, such as talking about '实验小鼠' (laboratory mice) in the context of science or ethics. Your ability to distinguish between different types of rodents (仓鼠, 松鼠, 田鼠) should be solid, and you should be able to explain the nuances of why '老鼠' is generally viewed negatively in Chinese culture despite its zodiac status.

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At the C1 level, you will encounter '老鼠' in literature, sophisticated idioms, and complex social metaphors. You should be familiar with phrases like '过街老鼠，人人喊打' and be able to use them in political or social commentary. You'll understand the nuance of using '鼠' as a derogatory component in words like '鼠辈' (shǔbèi - a low-life or coward). You should be able to read academic or journalistic texts about ecology or history that mention rodents and understand the specific terminology used. Your grasp of the word should include its role in classical Chinese stories and its evolution from a pictograph to its modern form. You can also discuss the linguistic phenomenon of adding the 'Lao' prefix to animal names.

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At the C2 level, you have a near-native understanding of '老鼠'. You can appreciate the word's use in puns, high-level literature, and ancient poetry. You understand the subtle shift in meaning when '鼠' is used in different regional dialects and can navigate conversations where '耗子' and '老鼠' are used interchangeably with various emotional weights. You can engage in deep cultural discussions about the symbolism of the rodent in Chinese folklore versus Western folklore (e.g., the Tooth Fairy vs. the Chinese mouse that takes teeth). Your usage is flawless, including the correct tone sandhi in rapid speech and the ability to use '鼠' in creative, non-standard ways for rhetorical effect in writing or public speaking.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

老鼠 en 30 secondes

老鼠 (lǎoshǔ) is the standard Chinese term for mice and rats, using the measure word '只' (zhī).
It is the first animal of the Chinese Zodiac, symbolizing cleverness, survival, and wealth.
Culturally, it is often viewed as a pest, leading to many idioms about sneakiness or cowardice.
Do not confuse it with '鼠标' (shǔbiāo), which is the specific term for a computer mouse.

The term 老鼠 (lǎoshǔ) is the standard Chinese word for a mouse or a rat. In the Chinese linguistic landscape, the distinction between a small 'mouse' and a larger 'rat' is often secondary to the general category of the rodent itself. The word is composed of two characters: 老 (lǎo), which usually means 'old' but here serves as a prefix often applied to animals (like 老虎 for tiger or 老鹰 for eagle), and 鼠 (shǔ), which is the pictographic representation of a rodent with whiskers and a tail.

General Usage: People use '老鼠' in almost every context involving these rodents, whether they are scurrying across a kitchen floor, appearing as characters in a cartoon, or being discussed in a scientific context. It is the most common and versatile term available.
Zodiac Context: In the Chinese Zodiac (生肖), the Rat is the very first animal. People born in the Year of the Rat are often described using this word, though in formal astrological contexts, the character 鼠 is used alone. However, in casual conversation, one might say '他属老鼠' (He belongs to the mouse/rat sign).

厨房里有一只老鼠在偷吃饼干。(There is a mouse in the kitchen stealing cookies.)

Historically, 老鼠 has carried a negative connotation as one of the 'Four Pests' (四害) in China, alongside flies, mosquitoes, and bedbugs (later replaced by sparrows, then back to bedbugs). This historical campaign shaped how the word is perceived in domestic settings—as something to be eradicated. Yet, paradoxically, the mouse is also seen as a symbol of cleverness and fertility because of its high reproductive rate and ability to survive in harsh conditions.

In modern urban environments, you might hear the word used metaphorically. For example, a 'rat' in a social sense (a traitor or a sneaky person) can sometimes be referred to using idioms containing '鼠'. Furthermore, with the advent of technology, the word for a computer mouse, 鼠标 (shǔbiāo), was derived directly from this animal, though you should never call a computer mouse just '老鼠' in a formal setting.

Biological Classification: Biologically, '鼠' covers the entire Rodentia order in Chinese, but '老鼠' specifically points to the Muridae family (mice and rats). If you see a squirrel, you call it a '松鼠' (pine mouse), or a hamster is a '仓鼠' (granary mouse).

那只老鼠跑得真快！(That mouse runs really fast!)

Using 老鼠 correctly requires understanding Chinese measure words and common verb pairings. The most important measure word for 老鼠 is 只 (zhī). You should always say '一只老鼠' (yī zhī lǎoshǔ) rather than just '一个老鼠'. Using the wrong measure word is a common beginner mistake that makes the sentence sound unnatural.

Common Verbs

抓 (zhuā) - To catch: 猫喜欢抓老鼠 (Cats like to catch mice).
怕 (pà) - To be afraid of: 我最怕老鼠了 (I am most afraid of mice).
跑 (pǎo) - To run: 老鼠钻进洞里跑了 (The mouse scurried into the hole and ran away).
咬 (yǎo) - To bite/gnaw: 老鼠把电线咬断了 (The mouse gnawed through the wires).

猫正在墙角守着那只老鼠。(The cat is guarding that mouse in the corner.)

When describing the size of the rodent, Chinese speakers will often use '大' (dà - big) or '小' (xiǎo - small) to differentiate between what English speakers call a rat and a mouse. '大老鼠' (dà lǎoshǔ) is almost always a rat, while '小老鼠' (xiǎo lǎoshǔ) is a cute mouse. In many dialects, especially in Northern China, the term '耗子' (hàozi) is a very frequent colloquial substitute for 老鼠, though 老鼠 remains the standard for all formal and written communication.

In grammatical structures, 老鼠 often appears as the object of a 'Ba' (把) sentence when an action is performed on it. For example, '我们要把这只老鼠赶出去' (We need to drive this mouse out). It can also be the subject of 'Bei' (被) sentences: '老鼠被猫抓住了' (The mouse was caught by the cat). These structures are vital for achieving B1 level proficiency and beyond.

Quantification: If you are talking about a group of mice, you can use '一群' (yī qún) - '一群老鼠' (a group/swarm of mice). If you are referring to a pair, '一对老鼠' (yī duì lǎoshǔ).

这间旧房子里到处都是老鼠屎。(There are mouse droppings everywhere in this old house.)

You will encounter the word 老鼠 in a variety of real-world scenarios. In a domestic setting, it’s a word of alarm. If someone yells '有老鼠!' (There's a mouse!), it usually triggers a cleaning frenzy or a call to an exterminator. In traditional Chinese wet markets, you might hear older generations using the word to describe pests that need to be kept away from the grain sacks.

Entertainment and Cartoons: One of the most famous places you'll hear this word is in children's media. The classic cartoon 'Black Cat Detective' (黑猫警长) features many '老鼠' villains. Similarly, Mickey Mouse is known as '米老鼠' (Mǐ Lǎoshǔ), and Jerry from 'Tom and Jerry' is simply referred to as '那只老鼠'. This usage makes the word feel much more friendly and approachable than its real-life counterpart.

小朋友们都喜欢聪明的米老鼠。(Children all like the clever Mickey Mouse.)

In a work environment, specifically in IT or office settings, while '鼠标' is the technical term for a mouse, you might hear people jokingly say '我的老鼠坏了' (My mouse is broken), though this is very informal. More commonly, you'll hear it in idioms during business meetings or political discussions to describe someone who is being 'shifty' or 'timid' (胆小如鼠).

In literature and idioms, '老鼠' often represents the common person or someone living in the shadows. You might hear the phrase '过街老鼠，人人喊打' (A rat crossing the street is chased by everyone) used to describe a public enemy or someone who has lost all social standing. This vivid imagery is a staple of Chinese news commentary and social media discourse.

Scientific and Culinary Contexts: In a laboratory, researchers will talk about '实验小鼠' (shíyàn xiǎoshǔ - laboratory mice). In some very specific regional cuisines in Southern China, though becoming increasingly rare and controversial, you might even hear '老鼠' mentioned on a menu, though usually under a euphemism like '田鼠' (field mouse).

实验室里有很多白色的老鼠。(There are many white mice in the laboratory.)

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is the Measure Word Confusion. English uses 'a mouse', but Chinese requires '一只老鼠'. Using '一个' (yī gè) is the most common mistake. While people will understand you, it marks you immediately as a beginner. Always remember that '只' is for most small animals.

Mouse vs. Rat: In English, we make a sharp distinction between 'mouse' and 'rat' based on size and species. In Chinese, '老鼠' covers both. Beginners often struggle by trying to find two different words. While '大老鼠' (big mouse) exists for rats, using '老鼠' for both is perfectly correct and more common. Don't overcomplicate it unless the size difference is the main point of your story.

一个老鼠 → 一只老鼠 (Correct measure word usage)

Another mistake involves the Computer Mouse. Because the English word is the same, students often call the computer peripheral '老鼠'. In Chinese, while they share the '鼠' character, the computer device is 鼠标 (shǔbiāo). If you tell a technician '我的老鼠不动了' (My mouse isn't moving), they might look for a dead animal on your desk instead of checking your USB port!

Finally, learners often forget the 'Lao' (老) prefix. Since 'Shu' (鼠) is the actual noun for rodent, some try to use just '鼠' in a sentence like '我看见一只鼠'. This is grammatically incomplete in modern Mandarin. You almost always need the 'Lao' prefix to make it a stand-alone noun, unless it's part of a compound word like '松鼠' (squirrel) or '袋鼠' (kangaroo).

Tone Sandhi: Since both 'lǎo' and 'shǔ' are third tones, the 'lǎo' changes to a second tone (láoshǔ) when spoken. Many students forget this rule and try to pronounce two full third tones, which sounds robotic and strained.

lǎo shǔ (Third + Third) → láo shǔ (Second + Third in speech)

While 老鼠 is the go-to word, Chinese has several alternatives depending on the region, the specific species, or the register of the conversation. Understanding these will help you sound more like a native speaker and understand various dialects.

耗子 (hàozi): This is the primary colloquial alternative, especially in Northern China. It is slightly more informal and often used when talking about pests in the house. If you want to sound very 'Beijing' or 'Dongbei', use '耗子'.
鼠标 (shǔbiāo): As mentioned, this is strictly for the computer mouse. '标' (biāo) means 'indicator' or 'pointer', so it literally translates to 'rodent pointer'.
仓鼠 (cāngshǔ): This means 'hamster'. '仓' (cāng) means granary or warehouse. These are the cute pets you see in cages, and they are never referred to as '老鼠' because '老鼠' implies a pest.

妹妹养了一只可爱的仓鼠。(My younger sister keeps a cute hamster.)

For more specific rodents, you have 松鼠 (sōngshǔ) for squirrel (literally 'pine rodent') and 袋鼠 (dàishǔ) for kangaroo (literally 'pouch rodent'). Even though they are not 'mice', the 'shǔ' character remains the root for almost all rodent-like or hopping mammals in the Chinese classification system.

In formal biology, you might see 啮齿目 (nièchǐmù), which is the scientific term for Rodentia. However, you will never hear this in daily conversation. If you are describing a rat that lives specifically in fields, you use 田鼠 (tiánshǔ). If it's a large bamboo rat (a delicacy in some areas), it's a 竹鼠 (zhúshǔ).

Register Comparison: '老鼠' is neutral; '耗子' is informal/rural; '鼠类' (shǔlèi) is formal/scientific.

虽然松鼠和老鼠都属于鼠类，但人们更喜欢松鼠。(Although squirrels and mice both belong to the rodent family, people like squirrels more.)

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

In ancient China, the '鼠' character was sometimes used to represent the concept of wealth because mice only live where there is an abundance of food.

Guide de prononciation

UK ləʊ ʃuː

US loʊ ʃu

Second syllable 'shǔ' carries the final emphasis, but 'lǎo' changes tone.

Rime avec

苦 (kǔ) 古 (gǔ) 舞 (wǔ) 土 (tǔ) 补 (bǔ) 数 (shǔ) 五 (wǔ) 鼓 (gǔ)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'lǎo' with a full 3rd tone instead of a 2nd tone (Tone Sandhi).
Confusing 'shǔ' (3rd tone) with 'shū' (1st tone - book) or 'shù' (4th tone - tree).
Confusing 'lǎoshǔ' with 'lǎoshī' (teacher).
Over-emphasizing the 'u' sound so it sounds like 'shoo-uh'.
Dropping the 'lǎo' prefix entirely in common speech.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

The character 鼠 is slightly complex to write but very easy to recognize.

Écriture 4/5

The character 鼠 has many strokes and a unique structure that is hard for beginners.

Expression orale 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but watch the 3rd tone sandhi.

Écoute 1/5

Distinct sound, very easy to pick out in a sentence.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

猫大小只有

Apprends ensuite

鼠标松鼠抓害怕生肖

Avancé

啮齿类鼠疫投鼠忌器鼠目寸光

Grammaire à connaître

Measure Words for Animals

一只老鼠 (yī zhī lǎoshǔ)

Tone Sandhi (3rd + 3rd)

老鼠 (lǎo + shǔ becomes láo shǔ)

The 'Lao' Prefix

老虎, 老鹰, 老鼠

Ba (把) Construction

我把老鼠抓住了。

Bei (被) Construction

老鼠被猫吃了。

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Exemples par niveau

这是一只老鼠。

This is a mouse.

Uses the measure word '只' (zhī).

老鼠很小。

The mouse is very small.

Simple Subject + Adjective structure.

猫看见了老鼠。

The cat saw the mouse.

Uses the completed action marker '了' (le).

我不喜欢老鼠。

I don't like mice.

Negative '不' (bù) + verb '喜欢'.

老鼠在哪里？

Where is the mouse?

Question word '在哪里' (zài nǎlǐ).

我家有一只老鼠。

There is a mouse in my house.

Existential '有' (yǒu) sentence.

老鼠在吃米。

The mouse is eating rice.

Continuous action '在' (zài) + verb.

那只老鼠是白色的。

That mouse is white.

Adjective phrase with '的' (de).

老鼠跑进洞里了。

The mouse ran into the hole.

Resultative verb '跑进' (pǎo jìn).

你怕老鼠吗？

Are you afraid of mice?

Yes/No question with '吗' (ma).

这只老鼠跑得很快。

This mouse runs very fast.

Degree complement with '得' (de).

我看见两只小老鼠。

I saw two little mice.

Number + Measure Word + Adjective + Noun.

猫正在抓老鼠。

The cat is catching a mouse.

Progressive aspect '正在' (zhèngzài).

老鼠不喜欢光。

Mice don't like light.

General statement of preference.

这里没有老鼠。

There are no mice here.

Negative existential '没有' (méiyǒu).

老鼠把饼干偷走了。

The mouse stole the cookies.

Basic 'Ba' (把) construction.

猫把那只老鼠抓住了。

The cat caught that mouse.

Full 'Ba' (把) sentence with resultative '抓住'.

老鼠被猫吓跑了。

The mouse was scared away by the cat.

Passive 'Bei' (被) construction.

我们要买一个老鼠夹子。

We need to buy a mousetrap.

Compound noun '老鼠夹子' (mousetrap).

老鼠在墙上咬了一个洞。

The mouse gnawed a hole in the wall.

Verb '咬' (yǎo) with result.

这些老鼠真让人讨厌。

These mice are really annoying.

Causative '让' (ràng) structure.

听说老鼠很聪明。

I heard that mice are very clever.

Indirect speech with '听说' (tīngshuō).

老鼠喜欢在夜里活动。

Mice like to be active at night.

Time phrase '在夜里' (zài yèlǐ).

虽然老鼠很小，但破坏力很大。

Although mice are small, they are very destructive.

Conjunction '虽然...但...' (suīrán...dàn...).

他胆小如鼠，不敢一个人出门。

He is as timid as a mouse; he doesn't dare go out alone.

Idiom '胆小如鼠' (dǎoxiǎo rúshǔ).

老鼠是十二生肖中的第一位。

The Rat is the first of the twelve zodiac signs.

Noun phrase '十二生肖' (shí'èr shēngxiào).

实验室里有许多实验小鼠。

There are many laboratory mice in the lab.

Specific term '实验小鼠' (shíyàn xiǎoshǔ).

这只老鼠竟然不怕人。

This mouse unexpectedly isn't afraid of people.

Adverb '竟然' (jìngrán) expressing surprise.

为了抓老鼠，他想尽了办法。

To catch the mouse, he tried every possible way.

Purpose clause '为了...' (wèile).

老鼠的繁殖能力非常强。

The reproductive capacity of mice is very strong.

Formal noun '繁殖能力' (fánzhí nénglì).

猫和老鼠是天生的敌人。

Cats and mice are natural enemies.

Fixed expression '天生的敌人' (tiānshēng de dírén).

他像老鼠一样偷偷摸摸地走了。

He left sneakily like a mouse.

Simile structure '像...一样' (xiàng... yīyàng).

那种过街老鼠般的境遇让他感到绝望。

That rat-crossing-the-street-like situation made him feel hopeless.

Metaphorical use of '过街老鼠' (guòjiē lǎoshǔ).

鼠目寸光的人往往看不见长远的利益。

Short-sighted people (mouse-eyed) often fail to see long-term interests.

Idiom '鼠目寸光' (shǔmù cùnguāng).

这篇文章深刻地揭露了那些社会鼠辈。

This article profoundly exposes those social 'rats' (low-lifes).

Derogatory term '鼠辈' (shǔbèi).

他投鼠忌器，不敢轻易举报上司。

He hesitated to pelt the rat for fear of smashing the vase (hesitated to act against the bad guy for fear of collateral damage).

Idiom '投鼠忌器' (tóushǔ jìqì).

老鼠的适应能力是它们生存的关键。

The adaptability of mice is the key to their survival.

Abstract noun '适应能力' (shìyìng nénglì).

他抱着首鼠两端的态度，迟迟不肯表态。

He held a hesitant (mouse-peeking-from-both-ends) attitude and refused to take a stand.

Idiom '首鼠两端' (shǒushǔ liǎngduān).

这种药对消灭老鼠非常有效。

This medicine is very effective for exterminating mice.

Formal verb '消灭' (xiāomiè).

民间传说中，老鼠是靠躲在牛背上才得第一的。

In folklore, the rat came first by hiding on the ox's back.

Complex sentence with '靠...才...' (kào... cái...).

鼠疫在历史上曾给人类带来巨大的灾难。

The plague (mouse-pestilence) once brought great disasters to humanity in history.

Specific historical term '鼠疫' (shǔyì).

他那贼眉鼠眼的样子，一看就没安好心。

With that shifty-eyed (thief-browed and mouse-eyed) look, it's clear he has bad intentions.

Descriptive idiom '贼眉鼠眼' (zéiméi shǔyǎn).

在这场权力的游戏中，他不过是一只微不足道的老鼠。

In this game of power, he is nothing more than an insignificant mouse.

Metaphorical use in high-level discourse.

文学作品常以老鼠的视角来观察人类社会的荒诞。

Literary works often use a mouse's perspective to observe the absurdity of human society.

Academic structure '以...视角' (yǐ... shìjiǎo).

这种社会现象正如蛇鼠一窝，令人齿冷。

This social phenomenon is just like snakes and rats in one nest (villains huddling together), it's chilling.

Idiom '蛇鼠一窝' (shéshǔ yīwō).

他试图在法律的缝隙中如老鼠般穿行。

He tried to weave through the cracks of the law like a mouse.

Complex simile in a formal context.

尽管环境恶劣，这些‘地老鼠’依然顽强地生存着。

Despite the harsh environment, these 'ground rats' (slang for people living in basements) still survive tenaciously.

Slang/Metaphor '地老鼠' (dìlǎoshǔ).

这种卑微的生存状态，正如沟壑中的老鼠。

This humble state of existence is just like a mouse in a ditch.

Literary comparison.

Collocations courantes

抓老鼠

怕老鼠

老鼠洞

老鼠药

老鼠夹

打老鼠

喂老鼠

老鼠屎

死老鼠

白老鼠

Phrases Courantes

米老鼠

— Mickey Mouse. The famous Disney character.

米老鼠是迪士尼的象征。

老鼠会

— Pyramid scheme. A fraudulent investing scam.

千万不要参加这种老鼠会。

地老鼠

— Mole or someone who lives underground; also a type of firework.

这种地老鼠烟花很好玩。

袋鼠

— Kangaroo. Literally 'pouch mouse'.

袋鼠在草原上跳跃。

松鼠

— Squirrel. Literally 'pine mouse'.

松鼠在树上摘松果。

老鼠屎

— Metaphor for something small that ruins a whole project.

他就是那粒坏了一锅汤的老鼠屎。

小老鼠

— Often used as a cute term for a small child or a pet.

我的小老鼠，快睡觉吧。

大老鼠

— Usually refers to a large rat or a corrupt official.

我们要抓出这些贪污的大老鼠。

老鼠精

— A mouse demon/spirit in Chinese mythology.

西游记里有一个老鼠精。

老鼠尾巴

— Mouse tail; often used to describe something thin and short.

他的辫子像个老鼠尾巴。

Souvent confondu avec

老鼠 vs 老师

Lǎoshī (Teacher) sounds similar to Lǎoshǔ (Mouse) but has a 1st tone on the second syllable.

老鼠 vs 松鼠

Sōngshǔ (Squirrel) is often confused by beginners who just hear 'shǔ'.

老鼠 vs 鼠标

Shǔbiāo (Computer mouse) is a specific noun that shouldn't be shortened to 'lǎoshǔ'.

Expressions idiomatiques

"胆小如鼠"

— To be as timid as a mouse; very cowardly.

他胆小如鼠，连看恐怖片都不敢。

Common

"过街老鼠"

— A person or thing detested by everyone.

那个骗子现在成了过街老鼠。

Common

"鼠目寸光"

— Short-sighted; lacking foresight.

这种鼠目寸光的计划不会成功的。

Literary

"投鼠忌器"

— To hesitate to strike a pest for fear of damaging something valuable nearby.

为了不伤害人质，警方投鼠忌器。

Formal

"首鼠两端"

— To be hesitant or indecisive; looking both ways.

他在两个选择之间首鼠两端。

Literary

"猫鼠同眠"

— Cats and rats sleeping together; officials and bandits collaborating.

这两个部门猫鼠同眠，互相包庇。

Formal

"抱头鼠窜"

— To flee ignominiously; to scurry away in fear.

小偷见警察来了，抱头鼠窜。

Common

"蛇鼠一窝"

— A gang of scoundrels; snakes and rats in the same nest.

他们几个蛇鼠一窝，没干过好事。

Informal

"贼眉鼠眼"

— Shifty-eyed; looking like a thief.

那个人贼眉鼠眼的，不像好人。

Informal

"獐头鼠目"

— With the head of a roe deer and the eyes of a rat; ugly and repulsive appearance.

他长得獐头鼠目，让人不舒服。

Literary

Facile à confondre

老鼠 vs 耗子

It means the same thing.

耗子 is regional/colloquial; 老鼠 is standard Mandarin.

北方人常说耗子。

老鼠 vs 仓鼠

Both are 'shǔ'.

仓鼠 is a hamster (pet); 老鼠 is a mouse/rat (pest).

仓鼠住在笼子里。

老鼠 vs 袋鼠

Both are 'shǔ'.

袋鼠 is a kangaroo; it is much larger and not a rodent.

袋鼠在澳大利亚。

老鼠 vs 鼹鼠

Both are 'shǔ'.

鼹鼠 is a mole that lives underground.

鼹鼠在花园里打洞。

老鼠 vs 松鼠

Both are 'shǔ'.

松鼠 is a squirrel with a bushy tail.

松鼠喜欢吃坚果。

Structures de phrases

这是一只 [Noun].

这是一只老鼠。

[Subject] 怕 [Noun].

我怕老鼠。

[Subject] 把 [Object] [Verb] 了。

猫把老鼠抓住了。

[Subject] 被 [Object] [Verb] 了。

老鼠被猫抓住了。

[Subject] 像 [Noun] 一样 [Adjective]。

他像老鼠一样胆小。

[Idiom] 的人 [Verb]...

鼠目寸光的人看不远。

正如 [Idiom]...

正如蛇鼠一窝，他们没干好事。

[Noun] 在 [Location]。

老鼠在厨房。

Famille de mots

Noms

鼠标

鼠疫

鼠辈

鼠类

Verbes

鼠窜

Adjectifs

鼠气 (cowardly)

鼠目 (short-sighted)

Apparenté

耗子

仓鼠

松鼠

袋鼠

鼹鼠

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high in both daily life and cultural discussions.

Erreurs courantes

Using '一个' instead of '一只'. → 一只老鼠
Animals usually take '只' as a measure word.
Calling a computer mouse '老鼠'. → 鼠标
While they share a root, 鼠标 is the correct technical term.
Pronouncing both 'lǎo' and 'shǔ' as full 3rd tones. → láoshǔ
The 3rd+3rd tone sandhi rule applies here.
Confusing '老鼠' with '老师'. → 老师 (lǎoshī)
The second syllable is totally different in tone and sound.
Using '鼠' alone as a noun. → 老鼠
In modern Mandarin, single-syllable nouns often need a prefix like '老'.

Astuces

Measure Word

Always use '只' (zhī) when counting mice. Example: 三只老鼠.

Zodiac

If someone says they '属鼠', they were born in the year of the rat.

Tone Sandhi

Remember: lǎo + shǔ = láoshǔ. The first 3rd tone changes to a 2nd tone.

Synonyms

Learn '耗子' to understand casual conversations in Northern China.

Tech Term

Use '鼠标' for your computer, not '老鼠'.

Stroke Order

The '鼠' character is a pictograph. Imagine the top as the head and the bottom as the tail.

Size

Add '大' or '小' to distinguish between rats and mice if necessary.

Cowardice

Use '胆小如鼠' to describe someone very shy or scared.

Context

If you hear 'shǔ' in a restaurant, they might be talking about the zodiac year, not the food!

Folklore

Look up the 'Mouse's Wedding' to see beautiful traditional Chinese art.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of an 'Old' (老) 'Rodent' (鼠). Even a young mouse is called 'Old Rodent' in Chinese because 'Lao' is just a friendly (or respectful) prefix for animals.

Association visuelle

Imagine a mouse wearing an 'Old' man's hat and glasses. It's an 'Old Mouse'.

Word Web

只猫洞米药夹怕跑

Défi

Try to say '一只老鼠在老鼠洞里吃老鼠药' three times fast without messing up the tones.

Origine du mot

The character '鼠' is a pictograph dating back to Oracle Bone Script. It originally depicted a rodent with teeth, whiskers, and a tail. The '老' prefix was added later in Middle Chinese as a generic prefix for animal nouns.

Sens originel : A generic term for any small, gnawing mammal.

Sino-Tibetan

Contexte culturel

In some contexts, calling someone a 'mouse' or 'rat' is a direct insult to their character (cowardice or treachery).

Westerners often distinguish 'mouse' (cute) from 'rat' (scary). Chinese uses '老鼠' for both, which can lead to confusion in translation.

Mickey Mouse (米老鼠) Jerry (from Tom and Jerry) Black Cat Detective (黑猫警长) villains

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At Home

有老鼠！
老鼠药在哪里？
老鼠咬坏了沙发。
快抓老鼠！

At a Computer Store

我想买个鼠标。
这个鼠标多少钱？
无线鼠标
鼠标垫

Discussing Zodiac

你属什么？
我属鼠。
老鼠是第一名。
今年是鼠年。

In a Lab

实验小鼠
白老鼠
做实验
观察老鼠

In the Woods

看，那是松鼠！
田鼠在打洞。
野生的老鼠
不要碰它。

Amorces de conversation

"你怕老鼠吗？(Are you afraid of mice?)"

"你知道为什么老鼠在生肖里排第一吗？(Do you know why the rat is first in the zodiac?)"

"你家附近有老鼠吗？(Are there mice near your house?)"

"你觉得米老鼠可爱吗？(Do you think Mickey Mouse is cute?)"

"你属鼠吗？(Were you born in the year of the rat?)"

Sujets d'écriture

描述一下你第一次见到老鼠的情景。(Describe the first time you saw a mouse.)

如果你是一只老鼠，你会住在哪里？(If you were a mouse, where would you live?)

讨论一下老鼠在城市生活中的角色。(Discuss the role of mice in urban life.)

你认为老鼠是聪明的动物吗？为什么？(Do you think mice are smart animals? Why?)

写一个关于猫和老鼠的小故事。(Write a short story about a cat and a mouse.)

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It means both! Chinese doesn't distinguish between them as strictly as English. If it's big, you can say 大老鼠 (rat); if it's small, 小老鼠 (mouse).

It's better not to. The correct measure word is 只 (zhī). Using 一个 sounds like a beginner mistake.

They mean the same thing. 老鼠 is the standard word used in books and formal speech, while 耗子 is more common in Northern China and casual talk.

In Chinese, it's just '鼠年' (Year of the Shǔ). You can translate it as either Rat or Mouse, but 'Rat' is the traditional English translation.

The word is 鼠标 (shǔbiāo). Don't just say 老鼠, or people will think you're talking about the animal.

No, it's just a prefix. A baby mouse is still called 老鼠. It's similar to the 'Lao' in 老虎 (tiger).

According to legend, the mouse won the race by riding on the ox's back and jumping off at the last second. It represents cleverness.

In the context of the zodiac, yes. In a house, no—they are considered pests that steal food.

Yes, it has 13 strokes and a complex shape. It's a good character to practice to improve your stroke balance.

胆小如鼠 (dǎoxiǎo rúshǔ), which means to be extremely cowardly.

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