獸 (shòu) - beast, animal & wild, ferocious

獸Tone 4

shòu ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

獸 · shòu

beast, animal;

wild, ferocious;

refers to wild animals, especially large mammals;

also used metaphorically for brutal or savage behavior.

beast, animalwild, ferociousrefers to wild animals, especially large mammals

Usage highlights

wild beastanimal nature/ferocityanimal categorybeast kingbird and beastbeast skin

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 人— human (as opposed to beast)
  • 文明— civilized (opposite of beastly)
  • 温和— gentle, mild

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The lion is a wild beast (野兽).
  • He has a ferocious temper (兽性).
  • Wildlife conservation is important (兽类保护).
  • Ancient hunters tracked wild animals (野兽).

Collocations

  • wild beast(野兽)
  • animal nature/ferocity(兽性)
  • animal category(兽类)
  • beast king(兽王)
  • bird and beast(禽兽)
  • beast skin(兽皮)

Idioms

  • Beasts in human clothing(衣冠禽兽)
  • Like birds and beasts(禽兽不如)
  • Fierce as a wild beast(如狼似兽)
  • Trapping birds and catching beasts(飞禽走兽)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese classification, 兽 specifically refers to four-legged mammals, distinguished from birds (禽), fish (鱼), and insects (虫).
  • The character appears in classical texts like the Book of Songs, often representing wild, untamed nature.
  • In modern usage, 兽 carries strong negative connotations when describing human behavior, implying savagery or lack of civilization.

FAQ