Huanglong
/xwǎŋ lʊ̌ŋ/noun
A Chinese name meaning “Yellow Dragon,” used for mythic beings, places, titles, and the citrus disease huanglongbing.
Did you know?In Chinese mythology, the Yellow Dragon is associated with the center of the cosmos and the legendary sage-emperor Huangdi, while huanglongbing later became the name of a devastating citrus disease.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
黃龍
“The written compound “yellow dragon”; 黃 meant yellow or central earth-colored, and 龍 meant dragon.”
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
huáng lóng
“A Yellow Dragon, a powerful auspicious or celestial creature appearing in historical and mythological texts.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
hwang ljong
“The pronunciation developed into forms represented in later Chinese phonological traditions as “yellow dragon.””
Modern Mandarin
Mandarin
huánglóng
“The standard Mandarin reading of 黃龍, literally “Yellow Dragon.””
20th Century
English
Huanglong
“A transliterated Chinese proper name used in English for places, myths, and cultural references.”
21st Century
English
huanglongbing
“A loanword in plant pathology, literally “yellow dragon disease,” referring to citrus greening disease.”