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狻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狻suāna fabulous beastx, 10 strokes, radical 犭
狻suān(mythical animal)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 犭
suān(suan1) T1
  1. 1a fabulous beast
  2. 2(mythical animal)
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March 24, 2026

狻suān(suan1)

The character '狻' (suān) refers to a fabulous or mythical beast often depicted in Chinese literature and folklore. It is traditionally associated with the idea of protecting the dead and is sometimes represented as a lion-like creature. This term is used primarily in literary or artistic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

Strokes10Radical犭
Cultural Note

'狻' is often associated with the '狻猊' (suān ní), a specific mythical creature resembling a lion that is said to guard tombs and important sites in Chinese culture. This connection emphasizes the importance of protective symbolism in Chinese mythology.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce lion, the 'suān', guarding the entrance to a grand palace. The character '狻' combines the radical for 'animal' (犭) with the sound 'suān', which sounds like a lion's roar. Visualizing this majestic creature can help you remember both the character and its meaning.

Meanings of 狻

suān(suan1)
1a fabulous beast
2(mythical animal)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 狻

狻Simplified
10Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狻

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Podcast: 狻

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AI Study Notes for 狻

Usage Notes

The usage of '狻' is quite niche, primarily found in classical texts or specific artistic expressions. Learners may confuse it with more common animals in conversation, so it's important to remember that '狻' is not used in everyday language. It's also important to use it in the appropriate literary or cultural context.

HSK Study Tips

While '狻' is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other mythical creatures like 龙 (lóng, dragon) and 凤凰 (fènghuáng, phoenix) that may appear in advanced studies. Focus on understanding its literary significance and how it relates to other cultural concepts in Chinese mythology.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse '狻' with more commonly used animal characters, such as 狼 (láng, wolf) or 猫 (māo, cat). Remember, '狻' is specific to mythical contexts and should not be used interchangeably with these everyday animals.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狻

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Etymology of 狻

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

animal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 狻

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

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

Want the full history of 狻? 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 狻?

Decomposition of 狻

IDS Structure⿰犭夋
狻Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
夋qun1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 狻?

How to say a fabulous beast in Chinese

“a fabulous beast” in Chinese is狻suān

The character '狻' (suān) refers to a fabulous or mythical beast often depicted in Chinese literature and folklore. It is traditionally associated with the idea of protecting the dead and is sometimes represented as a lion-like creature. This term is used primarily in literary or artistic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

When to use 狻

The usage of '狻' is quite niche, primarily found in classical texts or specific artistic expressions. Learners may confuse it with more common animals in conversation, so it's important to remember that '狻' is not used in everyday language. It's also important to use it in the appropriate literary or cultural context.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse '狻' with more commonly used animal characters, such as 狼 (láng, wolf) or 猫 (māo, cat). Remember, '狻' is specific to mythical contexts and should not be used interchangeably with these everyday animals.

Write 狻

狻

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

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Word Family of 狻

Words Containing This Character1
狻suān(mythical animal)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 狻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 狻

'狻' represents a mythical beast that is often associated with protection and guarding the dead.

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