雄狮 (xióng shī) — male lion (literally); a powerful or majestic p…

Definition

Literally 'male lion,' used both for the animal and as a metaphor for a powerful, commanding person. Often paired with 头 as a measure word.

noun

male lion (literally)a powerful or majestic person (figuratively)

Measure word · 只

雄狮，。
Dòng wù yuán lǐ yǒu yì tóu xióng shī, fēi cháng wēi fēng.
There is a male lion in the zoo, very majestic.
雄狮，。
Tā zài shāng jiè xiàng yì tóu xióng shī, wú rén gǎn tiǎo zhàn tā de dì wèi.
In the business world he is like a male lion — no one dares to challenge his position.
雄狮。
Nà wèi jiāng jūn bèi chēng wéi zhàn chǎng shàng de xióng shī.
That general is called a male lion on the battlefield.

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.

雄, male, and 狮, lion, form a male lion.

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.

厷隹雄

Meaning part形符xíngfú

隹隹zhuī

Sound part声符shēngfú

厷

厷gōng雄xióng

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

雄 is formed by putting 隹 together with 厷, with 厷 giving the character's sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獅; 狮 is its simplified writing.

犭師獅

Meaning part形符xíngfú

犭Written in full as犬quǎndog; beast

Sound part声符shēngfú

師

師shī獅shī

Same sound today

The traditional form 獅 pairs 犭 (dog; beast) with 師, which gives the sound; the simplified 狮 is a shorthand.

Appears in