Butterfly = 蝴蝶 [Hú dié]

Two yellow leaves and two red ones make the wings, with a green leaf for the body. Leaves that look ready to fly: 蝴蝶.

蝴蝶 (hú dié) means “butterfly.” The two characters work together as one word. Count butterflies with the measure word 只 (zhī): 一只蝴蝶 (yì zhī húdié), one butterfly.

这只蝴蝶很漂亮。 — Zhè zhī húdié hěn piàoliang. — This butterfly is beautiful.