鷙 (zhì) - Fierce, ferocious, predatory — describes birds of prey

鷙Tone 4

zhì ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

志

鷙 · zhì

Fierce, ferocious, predatory — describes birds of prey and by extension, people or things that are violent, cruel, or savage.

Fierce, ferocious, predatory — describes birds of prey

Usage highlights

Fierce birdCruel and ruthlessSavage beastViolent and fiercePredatory natureCruel official

Synonyms

  • 猛— fierce, violent
  • 兇— fierce, ferocious
  • 暴— violent, cruel

Antonyms

  • 溫— gentle, mild
  • 柔— soft, gentle
  • 和— peaceful, harmonious

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The eagle is a fierce bird of prey (猛鷙).
  • He has a cruel and ruthless nature (鷙忍).
  • The hawk's predatory instinct (鷙鳥之性).
  • A savage beast (鷙獸).

Collocations

  • Fierce bird(鷙鳥)
  • Cruel and ruthless(鷙忍)
  • Savage beast(鷙獸)
  • Violent and fierce(猛鷙)
  • Predatory nature(鷙性)
  • Cruel official(鷙吏)

Idioms

  • Fierce as an eagle and brave as a tiger(鷙鷹猛虎)
  • The nature of a predatory bird(鷙鳥之性)
  • Fierce heart and cruel intestines(鷙心狼腸)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred specifically to predatory birds like eagles and hawks in classical Chinese texts.
  • Later extended metaphorically to describe people with violent, cruel, or ruthless characteristics.
  • Appears in historical texts describing military leaders and officials known for their severity.

FAQ