豸 (zhì) - A mythical beast & a legless insect

豸Tone 4

zhì ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 豸

志

豸 · zhì

A mythical beast;

a legless insect;

a radical in Chinese characters often related to animals, especially felines or beasts of prey.

A mythical beasta legless insecta radical in Chinese characters often related to

Usage highlights

Radical 豸Mythical beastInsect without legsXiezhiLeopardWildcat

Synonyms

  • 虫— insect (in the legless insect sense)
  • 兽— beast (in the animal sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The character 豹 (leopard) contains the 豸 radical.
  • In classical texts, 豸 refers to a legendary animal (传说中无脚的虫).
  • Many animal names use the 豸 component (e.g., 貔, 貅).

Collocations

  • Radical 豸(豸部)
  • Mythical beast(神兽豸)
  • Insect without legs(无脚虫豸)
  • Xiezhi(獬豸)
  • Leopard(豹, contains 豸)
  • Wildcat(狸, contains 豸)

Idioms

  • Xiezhi distinguishes right from wrong(獬豸辨曲直)
  • The beast recognizes the loyal and the treacherous(神兽识忠奸)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 豸 is a pictographic character depicting a beast, often interpreted as a legless insect or a mythical creature in ancient Chinese mythology.
  • It serves as a radical (Radical 153) in many Chinese characters related to animals, particularly felines and beasts of prey.
  • The Xiezhi (獬豸) is a legendary creature in Chinese law and justice, known for its ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

FAQ