A Shih Tzu (UK: , US: ; Chinese: 西施犬; pinyin: Xī Shī quǎn literally 'Xi Shi dog', also spelled Shittsu) is a toy dog breed, weighing from 4 to 7.25 kilograms (9–16 lb) when fully grown. The name comes from the Chinese language word for 'lion' because this kind of dog was bred to resemble 'the lion, as depicted in traditional oriental art'. 'Shih Tzu' is the Wade-Giles romanization of the Chinese characters 獅子, meaning lion; this romanization scheme was in use when the breed was first introduced in America. In contemporary China, Pinyin is the predominant system of romanization, which renders it as shīzi.