Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
豻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
ànprison, jail; a wild dogx, 10 strokes, radical 豸, Very Hard
àn(canine)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 豸, Very Hard
hànprison, jail; a wild dogx, 10 strokes, radical 豸, Very Hard
hàn(canine)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 豸, Very Hard
àn(an4)
primary
T4
  1. 1prison, jail; a wild dog
  2. 2(canine)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
àn(an4)

The character 豻 (àn) primarily refers to a prison or jail, representing a place where individuals are detained. It can also denote a wild dog or canine, emphasizing its connection to animals. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can be found in literary or formal contexts related to law or wildlife.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, prisons were often seen as a reflection of societal structure and moral standing, making the concept of 豻 significant in discussions about justice and reform. This character can be linked to historical narratives surrounding law and order.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wild dog (the canine) barking at the prison gates, symbolizing the detention of a wild spirit. The character 豻 is composed of the radical 豕 (shǐ), related to animals, and represents the essence of being caught or confined, just like a wild dog in a cage.

Meanings of 豻

àn(an4)
primary
1prison, jail; a wild dog
2(canine)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 豻

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 豻

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 豻

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wild dog (the canine) barking at the prison gates, symbolizing the detention of a wild spirit. The character 豻 is composed of the radical 豕 (shǐ), related to animals, and represents the essence of being caught or confined, just like a wild dog in a cage.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 豻 with similar characters that denote different animals or places. It is more formal and rarely used in casual conversation. Be cautious with the tone; the pronunciation is àn, and mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 豻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can enrich vocabulary for HSK 4-5 learners who are exploring more complex characters. Students should focus on the context in which this word appears in literature or legal texts.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, prisons were often seen as a reflection of societal structure and moral standing, making the concept of 豻 significant in discussions about justice and reform. This character can be linked to historical narratives surrounding law and order.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 豻 with the character 犬 (quǎn), which means dog in a more general sense. For example, saying '我在豻' (I am in the dog) instead of '我在犬' (I am with a dog) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 豻

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 豻

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

beast

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 豻?

Decomposition of 豻

IDS Structure⿰豸干
Full Character
=
zhi4
left
gan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 豻?

Write 豻

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 豻

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, prisons were often seen as a reflection of societal structure and moral standing, making the concept of 豻 significant in discussions about justice and reform. This character can be linked to historical narratives surrounding law and order.

Frequently Asked Questions about 豻

The primary meaning of 豻 is prison or jail.