獠 (liáo) - Fierce, savage & barbarian

獠Tone 2

liáo ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

嘹林

獠 · liáo

Fierce, savage;

barbarian;

to hunt at night;

also refers to certain ethnic groups in ancient China.

Fierce, savagebarbarianto hunt at night

Usage highlights

Fierce tribesmanFerocious appearanceNight huntingBarbarian tribesUnruly and fierceTo hunt

Synonyms

  • 蛮— barbarian, savage
  • 野— wild, uncivilized
  • 凶— fierce, ferocious

Antonyms

  • 文— civilized, cultured
  • 雅— elegant, refined
  • 柔— gentle, soft

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient texts described fierce tribes (獠人).
  • He had a ferocious appearance (面目獠狞).
  • Night hunting was practiced (夜獠).
  • The term was used for southern ethnic groups (蛮獠).

Collocations

  • Fierce tribesman(獠人)
  • Ferocious appearance(獠狞)
  • Night hunting(夜獠)
  • Barbarian tribes(蛮獠)
  • Unruly and fierce(獠悍)
  • To hunt(獠猎)

Idioms

  • Ferocious and savage(獠牙毕露)
  • Barbarian tribes of the south(南蛮北獠)
  • Fierce and unruly(獠悍不羁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used as a term for certain non-Han ethnic groups in southern China, often with pejorative connotations.
  • In classical texts, often associated with fierceness, savagery, and barbarism.
  • The character contains the 'dog' radical (犭), which in Chinese character classification often carries negative connotations of animalistic or uncivilized traits.

FAQ