凶

兇

xiōng

㐅 + 凵

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

xiōng (adjective) fierce; vicious

xiōng (adjective) ominous; inauspicious

xiōng (noun) disaster; calamity

Etymology

Pictograph of a trap in the ground.

About

凶 is a pictograph of a trap in the ground, with the outer component 凵 suggesting a pit and the inner cross 乂 indicating something falling in. Its original meaning was inauspicious or unlucky, the direct antonym to 吉 (lucky). Over time, its semantic range expanded to include fierce, cruel, vicious, terrible, and also crop failure or famine. In modern vocabulary, it commonly describes violent acts or murder, reflecting a progression from a passive bad omen to active hostility and physical danger.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只老虎非常凶猛。

Zhè zhǐ lǎohǔ fēicháng xiōngměng.

This tiger is very fierce.

凶手已经被警察抓住了。

Xiōngshǒu yǐjīng bèi jǐngchá zhuā zhù le.

The murderer has been caught by the police.

他的样子很凶恶。

Tā de yàngzi hěn xiōng'è.

His appearance is very fierce.

山路十分凶险，要小心。

Shānlù shífēn xiōngxiǎn, yào xiǎoxīn.

The mountain road is very dangerous, be careful.

警方找到了凶器。

Jǐngfāng zhǎo dào le xiōngqì.

The police found the weapon.

这被认为是一个凶兆。

Zhè bèi rènwéi shì yīgè xiōngzhào.

This is considered a bad omen.

吉凶难料，我们只能做好准备。

Jíxiōng nán liào, wǒmen zhǐ néng zuò hǎo zhǔnbèi.

It's hard to predict good or bad luck, we can only be prepared.

尽管环境凶险，他们还是完成了任务。

Jǐnguán huánjìng xiōngxiǎn, tāmen háishì wánchéng le rènwù.

Despite the dangerous environment, they still completed the mission.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 㐅

Component: 凵

凶