凶猛 (xiōng měng) — fierce, ferocious, violent | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Describes animals or forces (storms, attacks) that are fierce and violent in action. Stronger and more aggressive than 猛烈, which leans toward 'intense/severe' rather than predatory fierceness.

adjective

fierceferociousviolent

Examples

凶猛。
Nà zhī lǎo hǔ fēi cháng xiōng měng.
That tiger is very ferocious.
凶猛。
xiōng měng De bào fēng yǔ cuī huǐ le xǔ duō fáng wū.
The fierce storm destroyed many houses.
凶猛。
Dí rén de gōng jī hěn xiōng měng.
The enemy's attack was fierce.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

凶xiōngfierce

猛měngviolent

凶 fierce and 猛 violent together describe ferocious force.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

凶 originally drew a hole with a lump of rock, mud, stone, or bamboo in it.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

孟

Same sound today

猛 pairs 犬 (dog) with 孟, and 孟 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Personality & Traits

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