豺狼 (chái láng) — jackals and wolves; (figurative) cruel and evil… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary compound for 'jackals and wolves,' used almost entirely in the figurative sense of cruel, vicious people — a strong, written alternative to everyday 坏人.

noun

jackals and wolves(figurative) cruel and evil people

Examples

豺狼。
chái láng Shì sēn lín lǐ wēi xiǎn de dòng wù.
Jackals and wolves are dangerous animals in the forest.
豺狼。
Nà xiē huài rén jiù xiàng yì qún chái láng.
Those bad people are like a pack of jackals and wolves.
豺狼。
Tā kàn rén de yǎn shén xiàng chái láng yí yàng xiōng hěn.
His eyes when he looks at people are as fierce and cruel as jackals and wolves.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

豺 names a jackal and 狼 names a wolf; together they suggest cruel predators.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

豸才豺

Meaning part形符xíngfú

豸豸zhìcreature

Sound part声符shēngfú

才

才cái豺chái

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 豺, 豸 marks it as a creature, and 才 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

犭良狼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

犭Written in full as犬quǎn

Sound part声符shēngfú

良

良liáng狼láng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 犭 (full form 犬) shows a dog-like animal. The right part 良 gives the sound.

Appears in

Animals & Mammals

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.