狼 (láng) — wolf

Definition

noun
wolf
Measure word · 匹, 只, 条
Easily confused

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.

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 6HSK 2.0 Level 5Animals & Mammals3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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