Chinese

Noun

猩猩

1. An unspecified kind of ape; generally assumed to be gibbons or orangutans, since they are the only ones geographically possible.   (Classifier: 隻／只)
   • 猩猩能言，不離禽獸。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     猩猩能言，不离禽兽。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
     From: The Book of Rites, circa 4th – 2nd century BCE

     Xīngxīng néng yán, bùlí qínshòu. [Pinyin]

     Even when an orangutan speaks, it still is a beast. [i.e. In order to be a civil human, one must do more than talking like one, but must act like one.]

   • 猩猩者好酒與屐，人有取之者，置二物以誘之，猩猩始見，必大罵曰：「誘我也！」乃絕走遠去，久而復來，稍稍相勸，俄頃俱醉，其足皆絆於屐，因遂獲之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     猩猩者好酒与屐，人有取之者，置二物以诱之，猩猩始见，必大骂曰：“诱我也！”乃绝走远去，久而复来，稍稍相劝，俄顷俱醉，其足皆绊于屐，因遂获之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
     From: 9th cent., Li Zhao (李肇), Supplement to the Book of Tang (唐國史補)

     Xīngxīng zhě hàojiǔ yǔ jī, rén yǒu qǔ zhī zhě, zhì èr wù yǐ yòu zhī, xīngxīng shǐ jiàn, bì dà mà yuē: "yòu wǒ yě!" nǎi juézǒu yuǎnqù, jiǔ ér fù lái, shāoshāo xiàngquàn, éqǐng jù zuì, qí zú jiē bàn yú jī, yīn suì huò zhī. [Pinyin]

     The xingxing is a creature fond of alcohol and wooden shoes. Those who wish to capture them would set up these two objects to entice them. When xingxing see them, they would yell out, "You dare trap me?!" They could leave the area but would eventually return. After some encouragement among themselves, they would start drinking and become drunk, starting to put the shoes on, hence getting captured.

Derived terms

Descendants

Japanese

Alternative forms

• 猩々

Noun

猩猩 ‎(hiragana しょうじょう, romaji shōjō)

1. orangutan
2. heavy drinker

Vietnamese

Noun

猩猩

1. Hán tự form of tinh tinh, “chimpanzee”