狼 (láng) — wolf | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

wolf

Measure word · 匹, 只, 条

Easily confused

娘niánglook-alikemother (informal/affectionate, especially in regional or literary use)

Examples

狼。
Sēn lín lǐ yǒu yì zhī láng.
There is a wolf in the forest.
狼。
Tā kàn jiàn yì zhī láng xiàng shān shàng pǎo qù.
He saw a wolf running towards the mountain.
狼。
Yì zhī láng zài cǎo yuán shàng zǒu lái zǒu qù.
A wolf is pacing back and forth on the prairie.

Origin

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Animals & Mammals 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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