heilong
heilong Lexical Profile
• noun
The Chinese name for the Amur River (Heilong Jiang), a major East Asian river forming much of the border between the Russian Far East and Northeastern China.
"We took a riverboat tour along the Heilong to observe the border landscapes separating China and Russia."
A black dragon in Chinese mythology, traditionally associated with water, storms, and the cardinal direction of the north.
"Legend states that the Heilong defeated an evil white dragon to protect the local villages, giving the great river its name."
Word Nuance & Usage
Most frequently encountered in English as part of the geographic name 'Heilongjiang' (Black Dragon River Province) or as the Chinese name for the Amur River.
• Rhymes for heilong
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Mandarin Chinese 黑龙 (hēilóng), literally meaning 'black dragon', from 黑 (hēi, 'black') and 龙 (lóng, 'dragon').