兽欲 (shòu yù) — animal desire; bestial lust (pejorative, of human base urges)

Definition

A formal, pejorative term for base human urges — typically sexual lust — likened to animal instinct. Almost always carries a negative, judgmental tone in writing.

noun
animal desirebestial lust (pejorative, of human base urges)

Examples

  • 兽欲，。
    Tā wú fǎ kòng zhì zì jǐ de shòu yù, zuò chū le bú dào dé de shì qing.
    He couldn't control his animal desires and did immoral things.
  • 兽欲。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō jiē shì le rén xìng zhōng de shòu yù yǔ tān lán.
    This novel reveals the animal desires and greed in human nature.
  • 兽欲，。
    Wén míng shè huì yīng gāi yuē shù shòu yù, ér bú shì zòng róng tā.
    Civilized society should restrain animal desires, not indulge them.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

兽shòuanimal
欲yùdesire

兽 suggests animal and 欲 appetite, painting base urges as if animal.

Characters in this word

Two 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.

The traditional form 獸 combines 單 (hunting weapon) and 犬 (dog) to show hunting; the simplified 兽 is a shorthand.

Open 兽 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
欠欠qiàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
谷
谷gǔ欲yù
Same sound today

欲 is made of 谷, which supplies the sound, and 欠, which relates to the meaning.

Open 欲 →

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