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犷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
犷guǎngfierce, rude, uncivilizeda, 6 strokes, radical 犭
犷guǎngroughunknown, 6 strokes, radical 犭
犷guǎnguncouthunknown, 6 strokes, radical 犭
犷guǎngboorishunknown, 6 strokes, radical 犭
guǎng(guang3)guang T3
  1. 1fierce, rude, uncivilized
  2. 2rough
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March 24, 2026

犷(獷)guǎng(guang3)

The character 犷 (guǎng) refers to someone or something that is fierce, rude, or uncivilized. It is often used to describe behavior that is rough or boorish, lacking refinement or politeness. In certain contexts, it may also convey a sense of wildness or untamed nature.

Strokes6Radical犭
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being boorish or uncivilized is often frowned upon, reflecting the importance of politeness and social harmony. The concept of 'face' (面子 miànzi) is significant, and behaviors described by 犷 can lead to loss of face.

Memory tip

Imagine a wild dog (represented by the radical 犭, meaning 'dog') acting fiercely and uncouthly. The 'guang' sound can be associated with a growling sound made by an aggressive animal. Visualizing a rough, unruly dog can help you remember the meaning of 犷.

Meanings of 犷

guǎng(guang3)
1fierce, rude, uncivilized
2rough
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 犷

犷Simplified
獷Traditional
6Strokes
犭Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 犷

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Podcast: 犷

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AI Study Notes for 犷

Quick Contrast

粗 (cū, rough) — use 犷 (guǎng) to emphasize a more fierce or uncivilized quality than just roughness.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 犷 with similar-sounding words or characters; its meaning is quite specific and negative. It is generally used in informal contexts to describe behavior. Avoid using it in formal settings, as it can come across as rude or harsh.

HSK Study Tips

Although 犷 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, students can connect it to other words describing character traits or behaviors, such as 粗鲁 (cūlǔ, rude) or 狂野 (kuángyě, wild). Focus on recognizing how 犷 fits into discussions of personality or social conduct.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 犷 with 犬 (quǎn, dog), thinking they are interchangeable due to the dog radical. However, 犷 specifically describes behavior, while 犬 refers to the animal itself. For example, saying '这只狗是犷的' (zhè zhī gǒu shì guǎng de, 'This dog is fierce') is incorrect; it should describe behavior, not the animal directly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 犷

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Etymology of 犷

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 广 represents the sound. Simplified form of 獷.

Memory hint

dog

Semantic (meaning)犭
+
Phonetic (sound)广
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

犷 = 犭 + 广. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 犷

IDS Structure⿰犭广
犷Full character
=
犭quan3
left
广Guang3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 犷?

How to say fierce, rude, uncivilized in Chinese

“fierce, rude, uncivilized” in Chinese is犷guǎng

The character 犷 (guǎng) refers to someone or something that is fierce, rude, or uncivilized. It is often used to describe behavior that is rough or boorish, lacking refinement or politeness. In certain contexts, it may also convey a sense of wildness or untamed nature.

When to use 犷

Be careful not to confuse 犷 with similar-sounding words or characters; its meaning is quite specific and negative. It is generally used in informal contexts to describe behavior. Avoid using it in formal settings, as it can come across as rude or harsh.

犷 or something close to it

粗 (cū, rough) — use 犷 (guǎng) to emphasize a more fierce or uncivilized quality than just roughness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 犷 with 犬 (quǎn, dog), thinking they are interchangeable due to the dog radical. However, 犷 specifically describes behavior, while 犬 refers to the animal itself. For example, saying '这只狗是犷的' (zhè zhī gǒu shì guǎng de, 'This dog is fierce') is incorrect; it should describe behavior, not the animal directly.

Write 犷

犷

Practice writing 犷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 犷

犷 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

她是个很粗____的年轻女子,快人快语,非常热情。

She is a very physical young woman, earthy, and very intense.

Example Sentences for 犷 (4)

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1
她是个很粗犷的年轻女子,快人快语,非常热情。

tā shì gè hěn cū guǎng de nián qīng nǚ zǐ, , kuài rén kuài, yǔ , fēi cháng。

She is a very physical young woman, earthy, and very intense.
2
他粗犷豪放,给人一种特殊的感觉。

tā cū guǎng háo fàng, , gěi rén yī zhǒng tè shū de gǎn。

He possessed a raw energy allied to a feeling of something special.
3
以其粗犷美而出名的男演员

yǐ qí cū guǎng měi ér chū míng de nán yǎn yuán

an actor famous for his rugged good looks
4
他的画笔锋粗犷、凌厉。

tā de huà bǐ fēng cū guǎng、 、 líng。

He paints with harsh, slashing brushstrokes.

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Word Family of 犷

Words containing this character2
粗犷rough粗獷
犷guǎngrough獷
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 犷

What does 粗犷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 犷

You might use 犷 to describe someone who is behaving inappropriately at a social event, for example, '他的行为太犷了' (tā de xíngwéi tài guǎngle, 'His behavior is too uncouth.')

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