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March 24, 2026
獸shòu(shou4)
The character 獸 (shòu) refers to a beast or wild animal. It is often used in contexts discussing wildlife, zoology, or metaphorically to describe bestial behavior in humans. This term conveys a sense of ferocity or untamed nature.
Strokes19Radical犬Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, beasts like the tiger (虎, hǔ) and dragon (龙, lóng) hold significant symbolic meaning, representing power and strength. The use of 獸 can evoke these cultural references, especially in literature and folklore.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'show' where wild beasts perform. The character 獸 contains the radical '犭' (quǎn), which relates to animals, and sounds like 'shòu'—think of a loud 'shout' from a beast in the wild.
Meanings of 獸
shòu(shou4)
1beast, animal; bestial
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 獸
獸Simplified
19Strokes
犬Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 獸
Podcast: 獸
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AI Study Notes for 獸
Quick Contrast
獐 (zhāng) refers specifically to a type of deer, while 獸 (shòu) is a broader term for wild animals or beasts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'show' where wild beasts perform. The character 獸 contains the radical '犭' (quǎn), which relates to animals, and sounds like 'shòu'—think of a loud 'shout' from a beast in the wild.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 獸 with the more general term for animal, 動物 (dòngwù). While 獸 has a more specific connotation of wild or ferocious animals, 动物 can refer to any animal, including domestic ones. The tone is crucial; ensure you pronounce it with the fourth tone (shòu).
HSK Study Tips
Although 獸 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of words related to animals, such as 動物 (dòngwù) and 獸醫 (shòuyī), which means veterinarian. Focus on recognizing its components to aid in remembering its meaning.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, beasts like the tiger (虎, hǔ) and dragon (龙, lóng) hold significant symbolic meaning, representing power and strength. The use of 獸 can evoke these cultural references, especially in literature and folklore.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 獸 to refer to all animals, leading to phrases like '我有一隻獸' (I have a beast), when they mean a pet. The correct term for pet animals should be 動物 (dòngwù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 獸
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Cultural Notes for 獸
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, beasts like the tiger (虎, hǔ) and dragon (龙, lóng) hold significant symbolic meaning, representing power and strength. The use of 獸 can evoke these cultural references, especially in literature and folklore.
Word Family of 獸
Words Containing This Character20
兽shòubeast獸
怪兽rare animal怪獸
野兽yěshòubeast野獸
兽医vet獸醫
禽兽creature禽獸
独角兽unicorn獨角獸
猛兽ferocious beast猛獸
兽药veterinary medicines獸藥
兽性brutal獸性
洪水猛兽fig. great scourges洪水猛獸
鸟兽fauna鳥獸
禽兽不如worse than a beast禽獸不如
兽类animals獸類
鸭嘴兽platypus鴨嘴獸
作鸟兽散to flee helter-skelter作鳥獸散
走兽beast走獸
兽医学veterinary medicine獸醫學
飞禽走兽fēiqínzǒushòubirds and animals飛禽走獸
兽行brutal act獸行
食蚁兽ant-eater (several different species)食蟻獸
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 兽 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 獸
You can say '這是一隻獨特的獸' which means 'This is a unique beast.'
Yes, expressions like '狼心狗肺' (láng xīn gǒu fèi) refer to a beastly heart, meaning someone is cruel or ungrateful.
No, 獸 specifically refers to wild or ferocious animals, not domestic ones.
