# 龜

| 龜 | U+9F9C, &#40860; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-9F9C |
| ← 龛 [U+9F9B] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 龝 → [U+9F9D] |
| ⿔ | U+2FD4, &#12244; KANGXI RADICAL TURTLE |
| ← ⿓ [U+2FD3] | Kangxi Radicals | ⿕ → [U+2FD5] |
| ⻱ | U+2EF1, &#12017; CJK RADICAL TURTLE |
| ← ⻰ [U+2EF0] | CJK Radicals Supplement | ⻲ → [U+2EF2] |
| 龜 | U+F907, &#63751; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F907 |
| ← 句 [U+F906] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 龜 → [U+F908] |
| 龜 | U+F908, &#63752; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F908 |
| ← 龜 [U+F907] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 契 → [U+F909] |
| 龜 | U+FACE, &#64206; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-FACE |
| ← 鬒 [U+FACD] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 𢡊 → [U+FACF] |

## Translingual

| Traditional | 龜 |
| Shinjitai | 亀 |
| Simplified | 龟 |

### Han character

龜 (Kangxi radical 213, 龜+0, 18 strokes in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean, 16 strokes in mainland China, cangjie input 竹月尸尸 (HBSS) or 弓難山 (NXU), four-corner 2711$_7$, composition ⿱⺈⿹⿷⿻冂⿰一⿺乚⺊⿼コ㐅𢑑(H) or ⿱⺈⿻⿻冂⿰一⿺乚⺊⿻コ⿴⿹𠃌⺕㐅(G) or ⿱丿⿻⿻冂⿰一⿺乚⺊⿻コ⿴⿹𠃌⺕㐅)
* Kangxi radical #213, ⿔.

#### Derived characters

* Appendix:Chinese radical/龜
* 𡤞, 𪷾, 𤒅, 櫷, 𦫉, 𪛕, 𨷺, 鬮

#### Descendants

* 亀 龟

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 1537, character 23
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 48847
* Dae Jaweon: page 2078, character 18
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 7, page 4809, character 4
* Unihan data for U+9F9C
* Unihan data for U+F907
* Unihan data for U+F908
* Unihan data for U+FACE

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 龜 :
| Shang | Western Zhou | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Oracle bone script | Bronze inscriptions | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 鬮 | *kʷɯ, *kʷruʔ |
| 龜 | *kʷɯ, *kʷrɯ |
Pictogram (象形): A drawing of a turtle seen from the side and from above (Bronze inscriptions).

### Etymology 1

Austroasiatic. Compare Mon ဂွိ (gwi, “soft-shell turtle”), Nyah Kur ทะวี่ʔ (tha wìiʼ, “soft-shell turtle”) (Schuessler, 2007).

#### "(Cantonese) signature"

    Signatures are usually scribbled and difficult to recognize, making it resemble the character 龜, which is with many strokes.

#### "(Hong Kong Cantonese) police"

    In the past, Hong Kong police uniforms were in dark green, similar to colour of turtles.

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): guī (gui$^1$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄟ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): gui$^1$ / kui$^1$
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): gwai$^1$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): gei$^1$ / gei$^{1*}$
* Gan (Wiktionary): gui$^1$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): kûi
    (Hailu, HRS): gui$^ˋ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): gui$^1$
* Jin (Wiktionary): gui$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): gṳ́
* Eastern Min (BUC): gŭi
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): gu$^1$ / gui$^1$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): ku / kui
    (Teochew, Peng'im): gu$^1$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^1$ciu; $^1$kue
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): guei$^1$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: guī
*** Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄟ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: guei
*** Wade–Giles: kuei$^1$
*** Yale: gwēi
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: guei
*** Palladius: гуй (guj)
*** Sinological IPA : /ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: gui$^1$ / kui$^1$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: gui / kui
*** Sinological IPA : /kuei⁵⁵/, /kʰuei⁵⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: gwai$^1$
*** Yale: gwāi
*** Cantonese Pinyin: gwai$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: guei$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: gei$^1$ / gei$^{1*}$
*** Sinological IPA : /kei³³/, /kei³³⁻³³⁵/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: gui$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /kui⁴²/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kûi
*** Hakka Romanization System: gui$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: gui$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /ku̯i²⁴/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: gui$^ˋ$
*** Sinological IPA: /kui⁵³/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: gui$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /kuɪ⁴⁴/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: gui$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /kuei¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: gṳ́
*** Sinological IPA : /ky⁵⁴/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: gŭi
*** Sinological IPA : /kui⁵⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: gu$^1$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: gu
*** Sinological IPA : /ku⁵³³/
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: gui$^1$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: gui
*** Sinological IPA : /kui⁵³³/
* gu1 - vernacular;
* gui1 - literary.
* Middle Chinese: kwij
Rime :
| Character | 龜 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 見 (28) |
| Final (韻) | 脂 (18) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Closed |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 居追切 |
| Baxter | kwij |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /kˠiuɪ/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /kʷᵚi/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /kiuɪ/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /kjwi/ |
| Li Rong | /kjui/ |
| Wang Li | /kwi/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /kwi/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | guī |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | gwai$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[k]ʷrə/
    (Zhengzhang): /*kʷrɯ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 龜 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | guī |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ kwij › |
| Old Chinese | /*[k]ʷrə/ |
| English | tortoise |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 龜 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| No. | 4616 |
| Phonetic component | 龜 |
| Rime group | 之 |
| Rime subdivision | 1 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 龜 |
| Old Chinese | /*kʷrɯ/ |

#### Definitions

龜
* turtle; tortoise (Classifier: 隻／只 c)
    From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE
    Héwèi sìlíng? Lín fèng guī lóng, wèi zhī sìlíng. [Pinyin]
    What are the four numinous animals? The lin, the feng, the tortoise, and the dragon; those are called the four numinous animals.
* (figurative) cuckold
* (Cantonese, humorous) signature (Classifier: 隻／只 c)
    畫隻龜／画只龟 [Cantonese] ― waak$^6$ zek$^3$ gwai$^1$ [Jyutping] ― (humorous) to sign (literally, “to draw a turtle”)
    潦隻龜／潦只龟 [Cantonese] ― liu$^2$ zek$^3$ gwai$^1$ [Jyutping] ― (humorous) to sign (literally, “to doodle a turtle”)
* (Hong Kong Cantonese, slang) police

##### Synonyms

* (tortoise):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 龜 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Ulanhot | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Tongliao | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Chifeng | 烏龜, 王八 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Hulunbuir (Hailar) | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Shenyang | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 烏龜 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 烏龜 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tianjin | 龜子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 烏龜 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 鱉 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 烏龜 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 烏龜, 龜, 王八 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan) | 鱉蓋, 鱉 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Bayanhot | 烏龜 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 龜, 烏龜 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 烏龜, 四腳爬, 爬爬 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Kunming | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dagudi (Maliba) | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Reshuitang (Longling) | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Salong (Lancang) | 烏龜 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Sai (Tengchong) | 烏龜 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 烏龜 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 烏龜 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Huanggang | 王八 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 昂龜 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 爬龜 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Qingyuan | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Fogang | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Yingde (Hanguang) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Yangshan | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Lianshan (Butian) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Lianzhou (Qingshui; Sihui) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Renhua | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Lechang | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Zhaoqing (Gaoyao) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Sihui | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Guangning | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Deqing | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Huaiji | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Fengkai (Nanfeng) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Xinxing | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Luoding | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Yunan (Pingtai) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Xinyi | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Lianjiang | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Nanning | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Wuzhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Yulin | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Rongxian | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Shatian) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Guiping | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Guiping (Mule) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Pingnan | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Gangcheng) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Pingdong) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Nankang) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Yingpan) | 龜 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Danzhou | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 烏龜 |
| Cantonese | Bangkok (Guangfu) | 龜, เต่า |
| Cantonese | Betong (Rongxian) | 烏龜 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 烏龜 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 烏龜 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 烏龜, 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Dabu (Xihe) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Jiexi | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Longyan (Xiayang, Yongding) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Ruijin | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Zaoqiao; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Touwu; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Nanzhuang; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Shitan; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Sanwan; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Toufen; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Gongguan; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Zhuolan; N. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Wuluo, Ligang; S. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Kaohsiung (Meinong; S. Sixian) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Kaohsiung (Shanlin; S. Sixian) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 龜 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 龜 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Zhuolan; Raoping) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 龜 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Fumian (Xisha, Xinqiao) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Luchuan (Daqiao) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Luchuan (Sihe, Hengshan) | 龜 |
| Hakka | Bobai (Cuntou, Xintian) | 龜 |
| Hakka | Beiliu (Mumian, Xilang) | 龜 |
| Hakka | Xingye (Gaofeng) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Rongxian (Xiandi) | 龜 |
| Hakka | Sabah (Longchuan) | 烏龜, 龜仔 |
| Hakka | Kuala Lumpur (Dabu) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 烏龜 |
| Hakka | Singkawang | 龜 |
| Hakka | Bangkok (Jiexi) | 烏龜 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 烏龜 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 王八, 烏龜, 龜 |
| Jin | Pingyao | 鱉疙瘩 |
| Jin | Taibus (Baochang) | 烏龜 |
| Jin | Linhe | 烏龜 |
| Jin | Jining | 烏龜 |
| Jin | Hohhot | 王八 |
| Jin | Baotou | 烏龜 |
| Jin | Dongsheng | 王八 |
| Jin | Haibowan | 王八 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 烏龜 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 龜, 烏龜 |
| Eastern Min | Matsu | 烏龜 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Taipei (Wanhua) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Tamsui) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Pingxi) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Cijin) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Hongmaogang, Siaogang) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Dalinpu, Siaogang) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Tianliao) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Taichung (Wuqi) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Tainan (Anping) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Taitung | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Xiyu) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 龜, 烏龜 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 龜, 烏龜 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping (Yongfu) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Pingnan (Shangdu) | 烏龜 |
| Southern Min | Pingnan (Sijie) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Pingle (Zhoutang) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Lechang (Tatou) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Yingde (Yuzui) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Yunan (Liantan) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 烏龜 |
| Southern Min | Chiang Mai (Teochew) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Hat Yai (Teochew) | 烏龜 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 龜 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 龜 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang) | 烏龜 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu) | 烏龜 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Fengting) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Youyang) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Central Min | Yong'an | 烏龜 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Sanxiang) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 烏龜, 龜 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Dahe) | 烏龜 |
| Waxiang | Yuanling (Shaojiwan) | 烏龜 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 烏龜, 王八 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Songjiang) | 烏龜, 十三塊六角 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Jiading) | 烏龜 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 烏龜 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 烏龜 |
| Wu | Wuxi | 烏龜 |
| Wu | Danyang | 烏龜, 王八八, 王八 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 烏龜 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 烏龜, 王八 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 烏龜 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 烏龜 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 烏龜, 王八 |
| Xiang | Loudi | 烏龜 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 烏龜 |
| Xiang | Quanzhou | 烏龜 |

#### Compounds

* 不待蓍龜 / 不待蓍龟 (bùdàishīguī)
* 九尾龜 / 九尾龟
* 兔角龜毛 / 兔角龟毛
* 六龜 / 六龟 (Liùguī, “Liouguei”)
* 六龜茶 / 六龟茶
* 冊府元龜 / 册府元龟
* 厾龜 / 厾龟 (tuh-ku) (Min Nan)
* 地圖龜 / 地图龟 (dìtúguī)
* 援鱉失龜 / 援鳖失龟
* 撥龜 / 拨龟
* 攝龜 / 摄龟
* 槓龜 / 杠龟 (gàngguī)
* 毛寶放龜 / 毛宝放龟
* 海龜 / 海龟 (hǎiguī)
* 灼龜 / 灼龟
* 烏龜 / 乌龟 (wūguī)
* 烏龜亡八 / 乌龟亡八
* 爛板烏龜 / 烂板乌龟
* 瓦影龜魚 / 瓦影龟鱼
* 白龜年 / 白龟年
* 紅龜 / 红龟 (âng-ku) (Min Nan)
* 縮頭烏龜 / 缩头乌龟 (suōtóu wūguī)
* 蓍龜 / 蓍龟 (shīguī)
* 蝸步龜移 / 蜗步龟移 (wōbùguīyí)
* 蟬腹龜腸 / 蝉腹龟肠
* 蠵龜 / 蠵龟 (xīguī)
* 解龜 / 解龟
* 象龜 / 象龟
* 金龜 / 金龟 (jīnguī)
* 金龜婿 / 金龟婿 (jīnguīxù)
* 金龜子 / 金龟子 (jīnguīzǐ)
* 金龜車 / 金龟车 (Jīnguīchē)
* 釣金龜 / 钓金龟
* 鐵雲藏龜 / 铁云藏龟
* 鴦龜 / 鸯龟
* 鶴算龜齡 / 鹤算龟龄
* 麟鳳龜龍 / 麟凤龟龙
* 龜兆 / 龟兆 (guīzhào)
* 龜兒子 / 龟儿子 (guī'érzi)
* 龜兔賽跑 / 龟兔赛跑
* 龜卜 / 龟卜 (guībǔ)
* 龜卦 / 龟卦
* 龜吼 / 龟吼 (Guīhǒu)
* 龜坼 / 龟坼
* 龜奴 / 龟奴
* 龜婆 / 龟婆 (guīpó)
* 龜子 / 龟子 (guīzǐ)
* 龜山 / 龟山 (Guīshān)
* 龜年 / 龟年
* 龜年鶴壽 / 龟年鹤寿
* 龜文 / 龟文
* 龜文鳥跡 / 龟文鸟迹
* 龜殼花 / 龟壳花 (guīkéhuā)
* 龜毛 / 龟毛 (guīmáo)
* 龜毛兔角 / 龟毛兔角 (guīmáotùjiǎo)
* 龜灼 / 龟灼
* 龜版 / 龟版
* 龜玉 / 龟玉
* 龜甲 / 龟甲 (guījiǎ)
* 龜策 / 龟策
* 龜筴 / 龟策
* 龜筮 / 龟筮
* 龜紐 / 龟纽
* 龜紋 / 龟纹
* 龜綬 / 龟绶
* 龜縮 / 龟缩 (guīsuō)
* 龜背芋 / 龟背芋
* 龜苓膏 / 龟苓膏 (guīlínggāo)
* 龜蛇二將 / 龟蛇二将
* 龜行 / 龟行
* 龜貝 / 龟贝
* 龜趺 / 龟趺 (guīfū)
* 龜速 / 龟速 (guīsù)
* 龜鑑 / 龟鉴 (guījiàn)
* 龜頭 / 龟头 (guītóu)
* 龜鱉目 / 龟鳖目
* 龜鶴 / 龟鹤
* 龜鶴同春 / 龟鹤同春
* 龜鼎 / 龟鼎
* 龜齡 / 龟龄
* 龜齡鶴算 / 龟龄鹤算
* 龜龍麟鳳 / 龟龙麟凤

#### Descendants

* → Zhuang: gvi

### Etymology 2
#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): qiū (qiu$^1$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄡ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): kau$^1$ / gau$^1$
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): giu$^1$ / kiu$^1$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^1$chieu
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: qiū
*** Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄡ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: ciou
*** Wade–Giles: chʻiu$^1$
*** Yale: chyōu
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chiou
*** Palladius: цю (cju)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: kau$^1$ / gau$^1$
*** Yale: kāu / gāu
*** Cantonese Pinyin: kau$^1$ / gau$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: keo$^1$ / geo$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /kʰɐu̯⁵⁵/, /kɐu̯⁵⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: giu$^1$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: giu
*** Sinological IPA : /kiu⁵³³/
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: kiu$^1$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: kiu
*** Sinological IPA : /kʰiu⁵³³/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^1$chieu
*** MiniDict: chieu$^平$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^1$qieu
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕʰiɤ⁵³/
* Middle Chinese: kjuw
Rime :
| Character | 龜 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 見 (28) |
| Final (韻) | 尤 (136) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 居求切 |
| Baxter | kjuw |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /kɨu/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /kiu/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /kiəu/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /kuw/ |
| Li Rong | /kiu/ |
| Wang Li | /kĭəu/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ki̯ə̯u/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | jiū |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | gau$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[k]ʷə/
    (Zhengzhang): /*kʷɯ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 龜 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | guī |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ kjuw › |
| Old Chinese | /*[k]ʷə/ |
| English | tortoise |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 龜 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| No. | 4614 |
| Phonetic component | 龜 |
| Rime group | 之 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 鳩 |
| Old Chinese | /*kʷɯ/ |

#### Definitions

龜
* Only used in 龜茲／龟兹 (Qiūcí).

### Etymology 3
#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): jūn (jun$^1$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄐㄩㄣ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): gwan$^1$
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): gong$^1$ / guong$^1$
* Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): kun
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^1$ciun
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: jūn
*** Zhuyin: ㄐㄩㄣ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: jyun
*** Wade–Giles: chün$^1$
*** Yale: jyūn
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiun
*** Palladius: цзюнь (czjunʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: gwan$^1$
*** Yale: gwān
*** Cantonese Pinyin: gwan$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: guen$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /kʷɐn⁵⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: gong$^1$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: geong
*** Sinological IPA : /kɔŋ⁵³³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: guong$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /kuoŋ⁵³³/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kun
*** Tâi-lô: kun
*** Phofsit Daibuun: kwn
*** IPA (Xiamen): /kun⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /kun³³/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /kun⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Taipei): /kun⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /kun⁴⁴/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^1$ciun
*** MiniDict: ciuin$^平$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^1$jyn
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕyn⁵³/

#### Definitions

龜
* (of skin) to crack; to become chapped
    From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE
    Sòng rén yǒu shàn wéi bù jūnshǒu zhī yào zhě, shìshì yǐ píngpìkuàng wéi shì. [Pinyin]
    There was a man of Song who was skilful at making a salve for chapped hands; and (his family) for generations had made the bleaching of cocoon-silk their business.

#### Compounds

* 不龜手藥 / 不龟手药 (bùjūnshǒuyào)
* 不龜藥 / 不龟药
* 龜手 / 龟手
* 龜裂 / 龟裂 (jūnliè)

### References

* “龜”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* 莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “龟”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 81.

## Japanese

| Shinjitai | 亀 |
| Kyūjitai | 龜 |

### Kanji

(Hyōgai kanji, kyūjitai kanji, shinjitai form 亀)
* Kyūjitai form of 亀

#### Readings

* Go-on: き (ki)
* Kan-on: き (ki)
* Kun: かめ (kame, 龜)
From Middle Chinese 龜 (MC kjuw), as in 龜茲 (Kyūji)
* Go-on: く (ku)
* Kan-on: きゅう (kyū)

### Definitions

* Kanji in this term
* 龜
* かめ Hyōgai
* kun'yomi
* Kanji in this term
* 龜
* き Hyōgai
* on'yomi
For pronunciation and definitions of 龜 – see the following entry. :
| 【亀】S | [kanji] jōyō kanji Kanji reading: こん, きん |
(This term, 龜, is the kyūjitai of the above term.) :

## Korean
### Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 龜 (MC kwij).
* Recorded as Middle Korean 귀 (kwuy)$^訓$ (Yale: kwuy) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [kɥi] ~ [ky]
* Phonetic hangul: [귀]

#### Hanja

Wikisource 龜 (eumhun 거북 귀 (geobuk gwi))
* hanja form of 귀 (“tortoise; turtle”)

#### Compounds

* 귀각 (龜殼, gwigak)
* 귀감 (龜鑑, gwigam, “warning; self-criticism”)
* 귀갑 (龜甲, gwigap)
* 귀두 (龜頭, gwidu)
* 귀모 (龜毛, gwimo)
* 귀배 (龜背, gwibae)
* 귀별 (龜鼈, gwibyeol)
* 귀복 (龜卜, gwibok)
* 귀선 (龜船, gwiseon, “Turtle ship”)
* 귀옥 (龜玉, gwiok)
* 귀점 (龜占, gwijeom)
* 귀판 (龜板, gwipan)
* 귀패 (龜貝, gwipae)
* 맹귀 (盲龜, maenggwi)
* 수귀 (水龜, sugwi)
* 신귀 (神龜, sin'gwi)
* 영귀 (靈龜, yeonggwi)
* 장귀 (長龜, janggwi)
* 진귀 (秦龜, jin'gwi)
* 해귀 (海龜, haegwi)
* 휴귀 (蠵龜, hyugwi)

### Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 龜 (MC kjuw).
* Recorded as Middle Korean 쿠ᇢ (Yale: khwuw) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
* Recorded as Early Modern Korean 구$^韻$ (Yale: kwu) in Samun Seonghwi (三韻聲彙 / 삼운성휘), 1751.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ku]
* Phonetic hangul: [구]

#### Hanja

龜 (eumhun 땅 이름 구 (ttang ireum gu))
* hanja form of 구 (“used in placenames”)

#### Compounds

* 구미 (龜尾, Gumi, “Gumi”)
* 구성 (龜城, Guseong)
* 구자 (龜茲, Guja)
* 구지봉 (龜旨峯, Gujibong)
* 구포 (龜浦, Gupo)
* 학구 (鶴龜, hakgu)

### Etymology 3

From Middle Chinese 龜.
* Recorded as Middle Korean 균 (Yale: kyun) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [kjun]
* Phonetic hangul: [균]

#### Hanja

龜 (eumhun 터질 균 (teojil gyun))
* hanja form of 균 (“crack”)

#### Compounds

* 균수 (龜手, gyunsu, “rough; cracked hands”)
* 균열 (龜裂, gyunyeol, “crack; break”)
* 균탁 (龜坼, gyuntak, “crack”)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Old Japanese
### Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *kamaCi.

### Noun

龜 (kame$_2$) (kana かめ)
* a tortoise, turtle
** 711–712, Kojiki, middle volume (Yamasachihiko and Umisachihiko):...乘$_二$龜甲$_一$爲$_レ$釣乍打羽擧來人遇$_二$于速吸門$_一$...(please add an English translation of this quotation)
** 720, Nihon Shoki:難波癬龜（倶毗柯梅）nanipa tapi₁kame₂Naniwa osteichthyan tortoise
* a tortoise shell used in 亀卜 (kiboku, “tortoise-shell divination”)
** c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 16, poem 3811:
    ...千磐破神爾毛莫負卜部座龜毛莫燒曾戀之久爾......tipayaburu kami$_2$ ni mo na opose urape$_2$ mase kame$_2$ mo na yaki$_1$ so$_2$ ko$_1$pi$_2$siku ni......mighty gods that carry not the burden, do divination with the unburnt tortoise shell with longing...

#### Descendants

* Japanese: 亀 (kame)

### References

* ↑ Samuel E. Martin (1987) The Japanese Language Through Time, New Haven, London: Yale University Press, →ISBN

## Vietnamese
### Han character

龜: Hán Nôm readings: qui, quân, quy
* chữ Hán form of quy (“turtle”).

#### Compounds

* 金龜 (Kim Quy)
* 龜頭 (quy đầu)