Definitions
(adjective)
fierce; vicious
(adjective)
ominous; inauspicious
(noun)
disaster; calamity
Etymology
Pictograph of a trap in the ground.
About
The character "凶" finds its origins in an ideographic composition representing a pit or hollow enclosure surmounted by crossing lines, which together conveyed the concept of a confined and hazardous space. This structural arrangement, with its components suggesting both containment and obstruction, inherently carried connotations of peril and inauspicious circumstances. Its early meanings were closely tied to omens of misfortune and physical harm, often derived from the idea of a trap. Over time, the semantic scope of the character widened significantly, moving beyond mere external danger to encompass abstract qualities of malevolence, ferocity, and a violent nature, thereby applying to both events and human character. The graphical form has maintained a consistent core structure throughout its history, preserving the visual allusion to its initial etymological sense while supporting its evolved and broadened range of meanings.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这只老虎非常凶猛。
凶手已经被警察抓住了。
他的样子很凶恶。
山路十分凶险，要小心。
警方找到了凶器。
这被认为是一个凶兆。
吉凶难料，我们只能做好准备。
尽管环境凶险，他们还是完成了任务。