兽 (shòu) — beast, wild animal (used in compounds); beastly, crude, uncivilized (used in compounds)
Definition
兽 is a bound morpheme — it only appears inside compounds like 野兽 ('wild beast') or 兽性 ('beastly'). As a standalone word, English 'beast' is best translated 野兽 or 猛兽.
bound form
beastwild animal (used in compounds)beastlycrudeuncivilized (used in compounds)
Examples
- 。Sēn lín lǐ yǒu hěn duō yě shòu.There are many wild beasts in the forest.
- 。Tā shì yí wèi yōu xiù de shòu yī.He is an excellent veterinarian.
- 。Zhè zhǒng shòu xìng xíng wéi ràng rén wú fǎ jiē shòu.This kind of brutal behavior is unacceptable.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 獸; 兽 is its simplified writing.
- 單單dānhunting weapon
- 犬犬quǎndog
The traditional form 獸 combines 單 (hunting weapon) and 犬 (dog) to show hunting; the simplified 兽 is a shorthand.
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