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猒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
猒yānThe character 猒 (yān) refers to a type of animal, specifically a dog or a wolf, often associated with ferocity. It is not commonly used in daily conversations but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife. The character conveys a sense of wildness and loyalty associated with these animals.12 strokes, radical 犬
yān(yan1) T1
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March 24, 2026

猒yān(yan1)

The character 猒 (yān) refers to a type of animal, specifically a dog or a wolf, often associated with ferocity. It is not commonly used in daily conversations but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife. The character conveys a sense of wildness and loyalty associated with these animals.

Strokes12Radical犬
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese literature, animals often symbolize various virtues or characteristics. The wolf, for instance, is sometimes seen as a symbol of loyalty and bravery, which can be reflected in how 猒 is used in older texts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wild dog howling at the moon, emphasizing its fierce nature. The character 猒 can be remembered as a combination of the radical 犬 (dog) and the phonetic component 彦, suggesting a 'wild' dog or wolf.

About 猒

猒Simplified
12Strokes
犬Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 猒

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AI Study Notes for 猒

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin, so learners may confuse it with more common animal-related characters like 狗 (gǒu - dog). It is more likely to be found in literary texts rather than everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

While 猒 is not included in the HSK, learners at higher levels should focus on recognizing less common characters and their literary usages. Understanding the context in which such characters appear can enhance vocabulary comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 猒 with 狗 (gǒu - dog) due to the similar meaning. For example, saying '我有一只猒' (Wǒ yǒu yī zhī yān) instead of '我有一只狗' (Wǒ yǒu yī zhī gǒu) is incorrect unless referring specifically to the literary context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猒

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Etymology of 猒

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 猒

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

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Decomposition of 猒

IDS Structure⿰明犬
猒Full Character
=
明Ming2
left
犬quan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 猒?

How to say 猒 in Chinese

This in Chinese is猒yān

The character 猒 (yān) refers to a type of animal, specifically a dog or a wolf, often associated with ferocity. It is not commonly used in daily conversations but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife. The character conveys a sense of wildness and loyalty associated with these animals.

When to use 猒

This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin, so learners may confuse it with more common animal-related characters like 狗 (gǒu - dog). It is more likely to be found in literary texts rather than everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 猒 with 狗 (gǒu - dog) due to the similar meaning. For example, saying '我有一只猒' (Wǒ yǒu yī zhī yān) instead of '我有一只狗' (Wǒ yǒu yī zhī gǒu) is incorrect unless referring specifically to the literary context.

Write 猒

猒

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 猒

No, 猒 is quite rare in modern usage and is more often found in literary contexts.

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