HSK 7, d, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
猛
měng
suddenly
HSK 7, d, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
猛
měng
fierce
HSK 7, d, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
猛
měng
violent
HSK 7, d, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
猛
měng
abrupt
HSK 7, d, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
猛
měng
violent, savage, cruel, bold
HSK 7, d, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
猛
měng
brave
HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
猛
měng
(slang) awesome
HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 犭, rank #3604, Very Hard
měng(meng3) T3
1ferocious
2suddenly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
猛měng(meng3)
The character 猛 (měng) primarily means 'ferocious' or 'fierce.' It is often used to describe animals or actions that are sudden or violent in nature. This word can also convey a sense of bravery or boldness in certain contexts, making it versatile in both formal and informal situations.
Strokes11Radical犭Frequency#3604DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'ferocity' is often associated with traditional martial arts, where a '猛' fighter is admired for their strength and boldness. This word can also evoke images of legendary heroes known for their fierce and brave attributes.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce tiger (猛) suddenly pouncing on its prey. The tiger's fierce nature connects to the meaning of the character, while 'měng' can be remembered by associating it with the sound 'mang'—like the growl of a tiger.
Meanings of 猛
měng(meng3)
1ferocious
2suddenly
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 猛
猛Simplified
11Strokes
犭Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#3604Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 猛
Podcast: 猛
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 猛
Quick Contrast
猛 (měng) vs 凶 (xiōng) — use 猛 for sudden or violent actions, while 凶 emphasizes a menacing or threatening nature.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 猛 (měng) with 轻 (qīng), which means 'light' or 'gentle.' This character is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially in slang, where it can mean 'awesome.' Common collocations include 猛兽 (měng shòu, ferocious beast) and 猛然 (měng rán, suddenly).
HSK Study Tips
Although 猛 (měng) may not appear in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant at HSK 4 and up. Students should focus on its usage in contexts involving descriptions of actions or characteristics, as well as its slang applications.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly use 猛 in contexts where gentleness is required, such as saying 猛的花 (měng de huā), which would incorrectly imply 'fierce flower.' Instead, use 温和的花 (wēnhé de huā, gentle flower).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 猛
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 猛 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
2The sound half孟 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaydog
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 猛? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 猛?
Decomposition of 猛
IDS Structure⿰犭孟
猛Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
孟Meng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 猛?
How to say ferocious in Chinese
“ferocious” in Chinese is猛měng
The character 猛 (měng) primarily means 'ferocious' or 'fierce.' It is often used to describe animals or actions that are sudden or violent in nature. This word can also convey a sense of bravery or boldness in certain contexts, making it versatile in both formal and informal situations.
When to use 猛
Be careful not to confuse 猛 (měng) with 轻 (qīng), which means 'light' or 'gentle.' This character is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially in slang, where it can mean 'awesome.' Common collocations include 猛兽 (měng shòu, ferocious beast) and 猛然 (měng rán, suddenly).
猛 or something close to it
猛 (měng) vs 凶 (xiōng) — use 猛 for sudden or violent actions, while 凶 emphasizes a menacing or threatening nature.
What learners get wrong
Learners might mistakenly use 猛 in contexts where gentleness is required, such as saying 猛的花 (měng de huā), which would incorrectly imply 'fierce flower.' Instead, use 温和的花 (wēnhé de huā, gentle flower).
Write 猛
猛
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 猛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 猛
猛 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 8 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.
