虪 (shù) - Black tiger & a rare, poetic term for a black tiger

虪Tone 4

shù ｜ 26 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

虪 · shù

Black tiger;

a rare, poetic term for a black tiger in classical Chinese literature.

Black tigera rare, poetic term for a black tiger

Usage highlights

Black tigerRare beastMythical creatureAncient characterClassical reference

Synonyms

  • 黑虎— black tiger (common term)

Antonyms

  • 白虎— white tiger (mythological opposite)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient text mentions a black tiger (虪).
  • In mythology, the 虪 was considered an auspicious beast.
  • The character 虪 appears in the Kangxi Dictionary.
  • Few people recognize this obscure character (虪) today.

Collocations

  • Black tiger(黑虪)
  • Rare beast(异兽虪)
  • Mythical creature(神兽虪)
  • Ancient character(古字虪)
  • Classical reference(典籍中的虪)

Idioms

  • No common idioms feature this character

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical texts and dictionaries as a term for a black tiger.
  • Considered an extremely rare character, even in historical contexts.
  • Reflects the rich but obscure vocabulary of classical Chinese zoology/mythology.

FAQ