{"id":1175,"date":"2024-01-24T12:02:29","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T12:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1175"},"modified":"2024-01-25T15:44:41","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T15:44:41","slug":"celebrating-%e9%be%99%e5%b9%b4-long-nian-the-year-of-the-chinese-dragon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-%e9%be%99%e5%b9%b4-long-nian-the-year-of-the-chinese-dragon\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating \u9f99\u5e74 (l\u00f3ng ni\u00e1n), the Year of the Chinese Dragon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On 10 February 2024, we will enter the Year of the Dragon, or \u9f99\u5e74 (l\u00f3ng ni\u00e1n) in Chinese. But are dragons and \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng) really the same kind of creatures?<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Of the 12 generic animal names representing <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2023\/01\/19\/happy-new-year-%e5%85%94-to-you\/\">'stems-and-branches' Chinese calendrical system<\/a>, \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng, or \u9f8d in traditional Chinese characters) is the most difficult to find a counterpart in the Western world. \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng) is commonly translated as \u201cdragon\u201d in English, but when you read about \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng) and dragons in the literature you\u2019ll quickly realise that while both depict mythical and powerful creatures, their physical appearances and the symbolic meanings behind them can vary quite a bit!<\/p>\n<h2>The Western dragon: a fire-breathing adversary<\/h2>\n<p>In Western mythology and literature, dragons are often portrayed as formidable foes, embodying chaos and destruction. These dragons often have wings and four legs, and they breathe fire and hoard treasure.<\/p>\n<p>From the dragons in \u201cBeowulf\u201d and \u201cSaint George and the Dragon\u201d, to Smaug in Tolkien's \"The Hobbit\u201d, these fire-breathing creatures are all menacing adversaries to be conquered. The Western dragon is a symbol of the unknown, representing the challenges and fears that must be overcome.<\/p>\n<p>We can find the negative connotations of dragons in the following phrases:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Here be dragons<\/strong>: A phrase used to indicate a dangerous or unexplored area.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tickle the dragon\u2019s tail<\/strong>: To do something that inadvertently leads to trouble.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sow dragon\u2019s teeth<\/strong>: To create a situation that will lead to conflict or disaster.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The majestic and benevolent \u9f99 L\u00f3ng<\/h2>\n<p>First let\u2019s call the Chinese dragon by its proper name, \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng).<\/p>\n<p>\u9f99 (l\u00f3ng) holds a revered and benevolent status in Chinese culture. Far from a fearsome creature, the Chinese dragon is a symbol of power, prosperity, and auspiciousness.<\/p>\n<p>Chinese dragons are typically depicted as long, wingless beings with antler-like horns.<\/p>\n<p>One of the earliest dragon legends is the story of \u9ec4\u5e1d (Hu\u00e1ngd\u00ec, the Yellow Thearch or the emperor of the yellow earth), who reigned China around 2600 BCE. Upon his death, \u9ec4\u5e1d (Hu\u00e1ngd\u00ec) was visited by a dragon, who took him to the heavens, where he\u2019s from originally.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout Chinese history, emperors likened themselves to dragons and used the dragon\u2019s image in imperial regalia, throne and architecture to reinforce their divine right to govern. The imperial robe is called \u9f99\u888d (l\u00f3ng p\u00e1o, lit. dragon robe), the imperial throne \u9f99\u6905 (l\u00f3ng y\u01d0, lit. dragon chair), and so on.<\/p>\n<p>In another legend, the great Chinese philosopher and teacher, \u5b54\u5b50 (K\u01d2ngz\u01d0 or Confucius), recounted a rare encounter with \u8001\u5b50 (L\u01ceoz\u01d0), likening it to meeting a mythical dragon. Laozi's philosophy, as documented in the \u9053\u5fb7\u7ecf (D\u00e0od\u00e9 j\u012bng) and considered the cornerstone of Taoism, holds profound influence over various aspects of people\u2019s lives. Confucius was so deeply in awe and reverence of Laozi that he remained silent for three days after their meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Many Chinese idioms containing the word \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng) convey its positive connotation, for example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u671b\u5b50\u6210\u9f99<\/strong> (w\u00e0ng z\u01d0 ch\u00e9ng l\u00f3ng): lit. \"Hoping one's child to become a dragon\", expresses a parent's high hopes for their children's success.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u9f99\u9a6c\u7cbe\u795e<\/strong> (l\u00f3ng m\u01ce j\u012bng sh\u00e9n): lit. \"Dragon and horse spirit\", refers to someone who\u2019s aged, but still full of energy and vitality.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u85cf\u9f99\u5367\u864e<\/strong> (c\u00e1ng l\u00f3ng w\u00f2 h\u01d4): lit. \"Hidden dragon, crouching tiger\u201d, refers to hidden talents or extraordinary individuals who are not easily noticeable but possess remarkable skills or potential.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u9f99\u98de\u51e4\u821e<\/strong> (l\u00f3ng f\u0113i f\u00e8ng w\u01d4): lit. \"Dragon soaring, phoenix dancing\", describes a scene of grandeur and vitality, often used to depict a flourishing style while performing Chinese calligraphy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Do you know more dragon or \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng)-related phrases or idioms? Please share them in the comments.<\/p>\n<h2>Celebrating the Year of \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng)!<\/h2>\n<p>On 8 February, the Skills Centre will be hosting a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/events\/chinese-film-night\/\">Chinese film screening event<\/a> in the University Hall. Before the film, staff and students will be able to try Chinese painting and calligraphy.<\/p>\n<p>Please come and join us from 5:30 pm \u2013 everyone welcome!<\/p>\n<p>Wishing you \u9f99\u884c\u9f98\u9f98\u00a0 (l\u00f3ng x\u00edng d\u00e1 d\u00e1)! May the year of \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng) bring prosperity to you all!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 10 February 2024, we will enter the Year of the Dragon, or \u9f99\u5e74 (l\u00f3ng ni\u00e1n) in Chinese. But are dragons and \u9f99 (l\u00f3ng) really the same kind of creatures?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1776,"featured_media":1176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[59,175],"tags":[335,241,336,333,229,334,249,321],"class_list":["post-1175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-foreign-languages","category-intercultural-competency","tag-chinese-calligraphy","tag-chinese-culture","tag-chinese-painting","tag-film-night","tag-foreign-language-films","tag-intercultural-awareness","tag-international-festivals","tag-mandarin"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/01\/\u9f99\u5e74\u5feb\u4e50-1.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1758,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2026\/02\/02\/marx-musk-and-the-year-of-the-horse-%e9%a9%ac%e5%b9%b4ma-nian-notes-on-language-and-culture\/","url_meta":{"origin":1175,"position":0},"title":"Marx, Musk, and the Year of the Horse (\u9a6c\u5e74 M\u01ce ni\u00e1n): notes on language and culture","author":"Daisy Zhu","date":"February 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you know what Karl Marx and Elon Musk have in common? The question is deliberately light-hearted, and the answer may seem trivial, but it offers a useful entry point into a broader reflection befitting in the fast-approaching Year of the Horse. 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But what\u2019s behind this ancient celebration, and how can you experience it, even far from China? Yingxiang Chen from the Department of Education tells us more. A river, a poet, and a nation\u2019s grief: the origins\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Foreign languages&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Foreign languages","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/language-skills\/foreign-languages\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dragon boat Festival","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/05\/%E7%AB%AF%E5%8D%88%E5%AE%89%E5%BA%B7.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/05\/%E7%AB%AF%E5%8D%88%E5%AE%89%E5%BA%B7.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/05\/%E7%AB%AF%E5%8D%88%E5%AE%89%E5%BA%B7.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/05\/%E7%AB%AF%E5%8D%88%E5%AE%89%E5%BA%B7.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":960,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2023\/01\/19\/happy-new-year-%e5%85%94-to-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":1175,"position":2},"title":"Happy New Year \u5154 (to) You","author":"Daisy Zhu","date":"January 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome to the Year of the Water Rabbit!\u00a0If you've ever wondered about Chinese New Year, here's some background information on the 'stems-and-branches' calendrical system and traditions celebrated throughout China at this special time of the year. On 22 January 2023, many people in the world will be welcoming the arrival\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Foreign languages&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Foreign languages","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/language-skills\/foreign-languages\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Illustration showing the profile of three rabbits and the words 'Happy New Year \u5154 (to) You'.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/01\/water-rabbit.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/01\/water-rabbit.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/01\/water-rabbit.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/01\/water-rabbit.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1419,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/15\/%e8%9b%87-she-enters-the-chinese-new-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":1175,"position":3},"title":"\u86c7 \"She\" enters the Chinese New Year","author":"Daisy Zhu","date":"January 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you know that the year of the Snake (\u86c7 sh\u00e9) (1) will have 384 days? As we prepare to celebrate the new year that starts on 29 January, it's the perfect time to explore the significance behind this intriguing creature and some related fun facts. Across cultures, the snake\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Foreign languages&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Foreign languages","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/language-skills\/foreign-languages\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Year of the snake with caption \"Happy New Year\"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/01\/Year-of-the-snake.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/01\/Year-of-the-snake.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/01\/Year-of-the-snake.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/01\/Year-of-the-snake.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1162,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2024\/01\/10\/discover-the-middle-kingdom-of-opportunities-with-chinese-for-business\/","url_meta":{"origin":1175,"position":4},"title":"Discover the Middle Kingdom of opportunities with \u2018Chinese for Business\u2019","author":"Daisy Zhu","date":"January 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u4f60\u597d N\u01d0 h\u01ceo language enthusiasts, curious minds, and future global leaders! 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