Bunny, Rabbit or Hare? Adorable Rabbit Names in Chinese!

Introduction

In English, we call a small rabbit a “bunny.

But do you know how to say that in Chinese? Across cultures, rabbits have charmed people for thousands of years. They’re quick, gentle, and — in Chinese stories — sometimes celestial! This guide will take you from moonlit legends to sweet nicknames, helping you learn Chinese words, characters, and stories behind these fluffy friends.

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🌕 The Magical Moon Rabbit: A Chinese Story

Picture a full autumn moon glowing like polished jade. Ancient storytellers imagined that if you looked closely, you’d see not a face, but a rabbit! According to legend, the moon goddess Chang’e once soared skyward, bringing with her a snow-white companion: the Jade Rabbit (玉兔 yù tù). Perched beside a mortar, the rabbit pounds herbs for an elixir of life, a symbol of kindness and tireless devotion.

Even today, the Jade Rabbit dances through Chinese festivals. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, children carry lanterns shaped like rabbits, and bakeries decorate mooncakes with tiny hare imprints. In Beijing, you can find the charming clay figurine known as the Rabbit God (兔儿爷 tù’eryé), dressed in bright robes and riding mythical beasts — a playful guardian born from moon-rabbit lore.

🐇 Saying “Rabbit” in Chinese: The Basics

Chinese has several words for our long-eared friend, each with its own flavor:

• 兔子 (tù zi) – the everyday term for a rabbit. Use it when talking about pets, stories, or even zodiac signs.
• 兔 (tù) – a single character, often used in idioms such as 守株待兔 (“to wait by a tree stump for a rabbit”), meaning someone hopes for success without effort.
• 小兔子 (xiǎo tù zi) – literally “little rabbit,” perfect for plush toys, gentle nicknames, or bedtime stories.

🌱 Tip: When saying tù, keep the tone firm and falling (fourth tone), like a gentle hop!

💞 The Chinese “Bunny”: Cute and Affectionate Names

Sometimes a plain “rabbit” isn’t enough — you need something cuter!

• 兔兔 (tù tu) – double the character, double the charm. This is the Chinese twin to English “bunny,” often used in social media captions or when cooing over pets.
• 小白兔 (xiǎo bái tù) – “little white rabbit,” a symbol of innocence, inspired by folk songs about loyal snow-white bunnies.
• Playful twists: 小兔兔 (xiǎo tùtu) or even 兔崽仔 (tù zǎi zǎi) in some dialects — though the latter is cheekier and often regional.

🌍 Rabbit’s Many Names: A Tale of Two Languages

✨ Fun fact: English speakers say “a happy bunny” to mean a content person or “down the rabbit hole” for getting lost in fascinating details. While Chinese doesn’t use “bunny” in idioms, phrases like 乐呵呵 (lè hē hē) — “smiling happily” — carry similar cheer.

✍️ Writing & Saying “Rabbit” in Chinese

The character 兔 isn’t just a word — it’s a tiny work of art. In ancient oracle bones, it resembled a crouching hare with tall ears and a short tail. Over centuries, brushstrokes became smoother, forming the elegant 兔 we use today.

Pronunciation tip: say tù with a firm downward tone. Practice aloud:

• 兔子 (tù zi) — rabbit
• 兔兔 (tù tu) — bunny

🎧 Record yourself or echo after an audio clip to perfect the sound. Imagine your voice bouncing lightly, like a rabbit’s hop.

🗺️ Rabbit’s Ancient and Dialect Names: A Quick Peek

Rabbits also leap through poetry and local speech:

• Classical literature called them 明视 (míng shì) or 扑朔 (pū shuò), elegant names for their bright eyes and nimble steps.
• Dialects offer surprises: in Sichuan, people may say 兔儿 (tùr), while in Cantonese, a bunny is 兔仔 (tou2 zai2).

FAQs

What’s the difference between tù zi and tù tu?Tù zi (兔子) is the neutral term for “rabbit.” Tù tu (兔兔) is a sweeter, affectionate nickname — like “bunny.”

How do you say “little rabbit” in Chinese? Say xiǎo tù zi (小兔子).

What’s the Jade Rabbit? A mythical moon rabbit, helper to Chang’e, brewing medicine for immortals.

Are there English idioms with rabbits? Yes — “a happy bunny,” “down the rabbit hole,” or “the rabbit’s out of the hat.”

🌟 Conclusion

From ancient myths to internet slang, rabbits in Chinese culture are far more than gentle pets. They’re symbols of agility, devotion, and warmth — and learning their names is a joyful step into the language. Next time you see a fluffy friend, greet it with a cheerful “tù tu!” and remember: every hop tells a story.

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Mao Ying | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Master’s degree in International Chinese Education from Peking University. Dedicated to the field of Chinese language education, with 7 years of experience as an international Chinese language teacher.