豹 (bào) - Leopard — a large, spotted wild cat native & also used metaphorically for speed, ferocity, or military

豹Tone 4

bào ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

豹 · bào

Leopard — a large, spotted wild cat native to Africa and Asia;

also used metaphorically for speed, ferocity, or military prowess.

Leopard — a large, spotted wild cat nativealso used metaphorically for speed, ferocity, or military

Usage highlights

Snow leopardClouded leopardLeopard printLeopard catLeopard GeneralLeopard's head

Synonyms

  • 豹子— Leopard (common noun)

Antonyms

  • 羊— Sheep/Goat (symbolizing docility)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The leopard (豹) is a powerful predator.
  • He runs as fast as a leopard (快如豹).
  • The general was known as the Leopard General (豹子将军).
  • A leopard cannot change its spots (豹变).

Collocations

  • Snow leopard(雪豹)
  • Clouded leopard(云豹)
  • Leopard print(豹纹)
  • Leopard cat(豹猫)
  • Leopard General(豹子将军)
  • Leopard's head(豹头)

Idioms

  • A leopard cannot change its spots(本性难移)
  • Leopard head and ring eyes(豹头环眼 - describing a fierce, heroic appearance)
  • Leopard changes(豹变 - originally meant a sudden, marked improvement, like a leopard's spots becoming more vivid)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, the leopard symbolizes courage, martial prowess, and ferocity, often used in military contexts.
  • The idiom 'Leopard head and ring eyes' (豹头环眼) is a classic literary description for fierce and heroic generals, such as Zhang Fei in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'.
  • The phrase 'Leopard changes' (豹变) originally comes from the 'Book of Changes' (易经), describing a profound and rapid transformation for the better, though its modern usage can sometimes imply a negative change.

FAQ