兽
shòu HSK7

beast

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approved by Prismcool · Jan 23, 2026, 08:44 PM · Reviewed by Prismcool on Jan 23, 2026, 08:44 PM

Sources

Changed fields: customSources

Original meaning: to hunt

Simplified form of 獸. Depicts using a hunting tool (单) and a dog (犬) to hunt and capture wild animals. 口 was later added for unknown reasons. Based on the original meaning "to hunt", now written as 狩. The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "beast". The traditional component 犬 was deleted for simplification.

Components

单
单 Iconic component
dān single

Depicts a hunting tool.

口
口 Unknown component
kǒu, kou mouth

The purpose of this component is unclear.

犬
犬 Deleted component
quǎn dog

The traditional component 犬 was deleted for simplification.

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫李学勤《字源》p.1270劉志基《中國漢字文物大系》Vol. 14, p.393何琳儀《戰國古文字典:戰國文字聲系》p.218
Readings & variants
Unicode