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狃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狃niǔgreedy, covetous; accustomed tox, 7 strokes, radical 犭
niǔ(niu3) T3
  1. 1greedy, covetous; accustomed to
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March 24, 2026

狃niǔ(niu3)

The character 狃 (niǔ) conveys the idea of being greedy or covetous, and it can also imply being accustomed to something. It is often used in contexts where someone's insatiable desire for more is highlighted, reflecting a tendency to cling to material or emotional possessions.

Strokes7Radical犭
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of greed is often linked to traditional teachings, such as those from Confucianism, which emphasize moderation and self-restraint. The character 狃 might appear in tales or idioms warning against excessive desire.

Memory Tip

Think of a greedy 'new' (sounds like 'niǔ') animal that is always on the lookout for more food. The character 狃 has the radical for 'dog' (犭), suggesting a nature akin to that of a dog who is often greedy for scraps. Visualize a dog that is so accustomed to receiving treats that it can’t help but beg for more.

Meanings of 狃

niǔ(niu3)
1greedy, covetous; accustomed to
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 狃

狃Simplified
7Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狃

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Podcast: 狃

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AI Study Notes for 狃

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 狃 with similar sounding words, leading to incorrect usage. This character is more formal and may appear in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tonal pronunciation; the third tone can sometimes be mispronounced as the second.

HSK Study Tips

While 狃 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it shares thematic connections with other words related to desire and habits. Students should focus on associating it with similar characters like 想 (xiǎng - to think or want) and 习惯 (xíguàn - habit).

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 狃 with the character 恼 (nǎo - to annoy), leading to incorrect interpretations. For example, saying '他总是狃' with the wrong meaning can give the impression of annoyance rather than greed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狃

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Etymology of 狃

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

dog

Semantic (meaning)犭
+
Phonetic (sound)丑
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 狃

  1. 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half丑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydog
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 狃? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 狃?

Decomposition of 狃

IDS Structure⿰犭丑
狃Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
丑Chou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 狃?

How to say greedy, covetous; accustomed to in Chinese

“greedy, covetous; accustomed to” in Chinese is狃niǔ

The character 狃 (niǔ) conveys the idea of being greedy or covetous, and it can also imply being accustomed to something. It is often used in contexts where someone's insatiable desire for more is highlighted, reflecting a tendency to cling to material or emotional possessions.

When to use 狃

Learners often confuse 狃 with similar sounding words, leading to incorrect usage. This character is more formal and may appear in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tonal pronunciation; the third tone can sometimes be mispronounced as the second.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 狃 with the character 恼 (nǎo - to annoy), leading to incorrect interpretations. For example, saying '他总是狃' with the wrong meaning can give the impression of annoyance rather than greed.

Write 狃

狃

Practice writing 狃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 狃

Words Containing This Character1
狃niǔaccustomed to
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 狃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 狃

It can be used in a sentence like '他对财富非常狃' (Tā duì cáifù fēicháng niǔ), meaning 'He is very greedy for wealth.'

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