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猇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
猇xiāoa tiger's roar; to intimidate; to scarezg, 11 strokes, radical 犭
猇xiāothe scream or roar of a tigerunknown, 11 strokes, radical 犭
xiāo(xiao1) T1
  1. 1a tiger's roar; to intimidate; to scare
  2. 2the scream or roar of a tiger
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

猇xiāo(xiao1)

The character 猇 (xiāo) refers to the roar or scream of a tiger, symbolizing intimidation and fear. It is often used in literary contexts to describe the ferocious nature of tigers, conveying a sense of power and danger associated with these majestic animals.

Strokes11Radical犭
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the tiger is a symbol of strength and bravery. The roar of a tiger not only represents physical power but also serves as a metaphor for leadership and authority in various cultural narratives.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiger roaring loudly in the jungle; its fierce sound echoes in the air, making all creatures freeze in fear. The character 猇 has the radical for 'animal' (犭) and the phonetic part 'xiao' (小), which can remind you of the loud sound of the tiger, as if a small sound (小) can turn into a mighty roar.

Meanings of 猇

xiāo(xiao1)
1a tiger's roar; to intimidate; to scare
2the scream or roar of a tiger
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 猇

猇Simplified
11Strokes
犭Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 猇

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Podcast: 猇

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AI Study Notes for 猇

Usage Notes

Use 猇 primarily in literary or descriptive contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious of the tone; it's important to pronounce it correctly as xiāo (high tone) to convey the right meaning. This character often appears in phrases related to nature or ferocity.

HSK Study Tips

Though 猇 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of animal-related vocabulary. Focus on connecting this character with other animal sounds or behaviors to build a thematic vocabulary around nature and wildlife.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 猇 with similar-sounding characters. For example, some might mistakenly use 小 (xiǎo, meaning 'small') instead of 猇. Always remember that 猇 specifically refers to the roar of a tiger, not just a small sound.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猇

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Etymology of 猇

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

tiger

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 猇

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

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

Want the full history of 猇? 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 猇?

Decomposition of 猇

IDS Structure⿰犭虎
猇Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
虎hu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 猇?

How to say a tiger's roar; to intimidate; to scare in Chinese

“a tiger's roar; to intimidate; to scare” in Chinese is猇xiāo

The character 猇 (xiāo) refers to the roar or scream of a tiger, symbolizing intimidation and fear. It is often used in literary contexts to describe the ferocious nature of tigers, conveying a sense of power and danger associated with these majestic animals.

When to use 猇

Use 猇 primarily in literary or descriptive contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious of the tone; it's important to pronounce it correctly as xiāo (high tone) to convey the right meaning. This character often appears in phrases related to nature or ferocity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 猇 with similar-sounding characters. For example, some might mistakenly use 小 (xiǎo, meaning 'small') instead of 猇. Always remember that 猇 specifically refers to the roar of a tiger, not just a small sound.

Write 猇

猇

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

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Word Family of 猇

Words Containing This Character3
猇xiāoto scare
猇亭Xiaoting district of Yichang city 宜昌市[Yí​chāng​Shì], Hubei
猇亭区Xiaoting district of Yichang city 宜昌市[Yí​chāng​Shì], Hubei猇亭區
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 猇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 猇

It means the roar or scream of a tiger, often associated with intimidation.

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