Meanings of 貍
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About 貍
Podcast: 貍
Podcast: 貍
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AI Study Notes for 貍
狐狸 (húlí, fox) vs 野猫 (yěmāo, wildcat) — use 貍 when emphasizing cunning or slyness, while 狐狸 is more specific to foxes and 野猫 refers to wildcats.
Imagine a sly fox (the meaning of 貍) wearing a fancy 'li'ttle coat. The left side of the character, the radical for 'animal' (犭), signifies it's related to animals, while the right side suggests its unique attributes, helping you remember both the form and pronunciation.
When using 貍, be careful not to confuse it with related characters like 狐 (hú), which means 'fox' in a broader sense. This term is more specific and can come off as informal in certain contexts, so be aware of your audience when using it.
Although 貍 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other animal-related words at HSK Level 1, such as 猫 (māo) for 'cat' and 狗 (gǒu) for 'dog.' Focus on recognizing animal characters to enhance your vocabulary.
In Chinese culture, foxes are often seen as clever and sometimes deceptive creatures, appearing in many folktales and stories. The character 貍 may evoke these cultural associations of cunningness in both animals and people.
Learners often confuse 貍 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mistakes like saying 'hú' instead of 'lí' when referring to a fox. Always remember that 貍 has a specific meaning and pronunciation that differs from related terms.
Pronunciation of 貍
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Etymology of 貍
Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 里 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貍.
animal
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 貍
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Write 貍
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Practice writing 貍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Cultural Notes for 貍
In Chinese culture, foxes are often seen as clever and sometimes deceptive creatures, appearing in many folktales and stories. The character 貍 may evoke these cultural associations of cunningness in both animals and people.
In Western cultures, foxes are frequently depicted as clever but can also represent mischief, similar to their portrayal in Chinese culture, but the nuances often differ in how these traits are perceived.
Word Family of 貍
Compound Meaning
What does 狐狸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 貍
While both refer to foxes, 貍 specifically refers to a wildcat or a particular type of fox, whereas 狐 is a more general term for fox.