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凶猛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
凶猛xiōngměngfierceHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #13127, Very Hard
凶猛xiōngměngviolentHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #13127, Very Hard
凶猛xiōngměngferociousHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #13127, Very Hard
xiōngměng(xiong1meng3)xiong meng T1
  1. 1fierce
  2. 2violent
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March 24, 2026

凶猛(兇猛)xiōngměng(xiong1meng3)

The word 凶猛 (xiong1 meng3) describes something that is fierce, violent, or ferocious. It is often used to characterize animals, people, or situations that exhibit aggressive or intense behavior. In a figurative sense, it can also describe strong emotions or actions.

Strokes15Frequency#13127DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, animals are often used as symbols of strength and ferocity. The use of 凶猛 can evoke imagery of traditional Chinese folklore where fierce creatures play significant roles in stories.

Memory tip

Imagine a fierce lion (凶) and a powerful tiger (猛) roaring together in the jungle. The 'xiong' sounds like 'strong' and 'meng' sounds like 'mighty', reinforcing the idea of ferocity and strength.

Meanings of 凶猛

xiōngměng(xiong1meng3)
1fierce
2violent
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About 凶猛

凶猛Simplified
兇猛Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 凶猛

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Podcast: 凶猛

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AI study notes for 凶猛

Quick Contrast

凶狠 (xiōnghěn) - use 凶猛 when describing something that is fierce in a more general or intense sense, while 凶狠 emphasizes a cruel or malicious aspect.

Usage Notes

Use 凶猛 in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious when describing people, as it can carry a negative connotation. Common collocations include 凶猛的动物 (fierce animals) or 凶猛的攻击 (ferocious attack). Watch the tones; mispronouncing can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

While 凶猛 is not an HSK word, it relates to vocabulary describing characteristics and emotions. Learners at this level should focus on recognizing how adjectives like 凶猛 can intensify nouns in descriptions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 凶猛 with words like 温和 (wen1 he2), which means mild or gentle. An incorrect usage would be saying '他是一个凶猛的人' (He is a fierce person) when it might be more appropriate to use a less aggressive descriptor.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 凶猛

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Component characters

凶xiōngterrible
HSK 74 strokes凵
View full entry
猛měngferocious
HSK 711 strokes犭
View full entry

How to say fierce in Chinese

“fierce” in Chinese is凶猛xiōngměng

The word 凶猛 (xiong1 meng3) describes something that is fierce, violent, or ferocious. It is often used to characterize animals, people, or situations that exhibit aggressive or intense behavior. In a figurative sense, it can also describe strong emotions or actions.

When to use 凶猛

Use 凶猛 in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious when describing people, as it can carry a negative connotation. Common collocations include 凶猛的动物 (fierce animals) or 凶猛的攻击 (ferocious attack). Watch the tones; mispronouncing can lead to confusion with other words.

凶猛 or something close to it

凶狠 (xiōnghěn) - use 凶猛 when describing something that is fierce in a more general or intense sense, while 凶狠 emphasizes a cruel or malicious aspect.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 凶猛 with words like 温和 (wen1 he2), which means mild or gentle. An incorrect usage would be saying '他是一个凶猛的人' (He is a fierce person) when it might be more appropriate to use a less aggressive descriptor.

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凶
猛

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Frequently asked questions about 凶猛

Yes, you can use 凶猛 to describe intense emotions, such as a fierce determination.

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