貍 (lí) - Wildcat & raccoon dog

貍Tone 2

lí ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

貍 · lí

Wildcat;

raccoon dog;

badger;

a general term for small wild mammals of the cat family.

Wildcatraccoon dogbadger

Usage highlights

Raccoon dogWildcatFox and raccoon dogRaccoon dog furTransforming raccoon dogRaccoon dog spirit

Synonyms

  • 狸— Simplified form of 貍
  • 貉— Raccoon dog (alternative character)
  • 野貓— Wildcat

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The raccoon dog is a nocturnal animal (貍是夜行性動物).
  • In folklore, some animals can transform into humans (貍可以變成人).
  • This area has many wildcats (這裡有很多野貍).
  • The fur of the raccoon dog is valuable (貍皮很珍貴).

Collocations

  • Raccoon dog(貍貓)
  • Wildcat(野貍)
  • Fox and raccoon dog(狐貍)
  • Raccoon dog fur(貍皮)
  • Transforming raccoon dog(貍妖)
  • Raccoon dog spirit(貍精)

Idioms

  • The raccoon cat swaps the crown prince(貍貓換太子)
  • Fox friends and dog companions(狐朋狗友 - though not directly containing 貍, semantically related)
  • Fox and raccoon(狐貍 - though often translated simply as 'fox')

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese folklore, raccoon dogs (貍) are often depicted as magical creatures capable of transformation and trickery.
  • The character appears in the famous legend 'The Raccoon Cat Swaps the Crown Prince' from Chinese opera and storytelling.
  • Raccoon dogs were historically hunted for their fur and sometimes consumed as food.

FAQ