枭

梟

xiāo

④ + 木

Definitions

xiāo owl; valiant; trafficker

Etymology

A bird 鸟 roosting in a tree 木

About

The character 枭 originally represented a specific species of owl, composed of 鸟 (bird) and 木 (tree) to depict a bird roosting in a tree. In the traditional form 梟, the bird component 鳥 sits above 木; the simplified 枭 uses a shortened 鸟 (missing its bottom stroke) for easier writing. Ancient lore held that this owl ate its mother upon hatching, giving the character connotations of fierceness, wickedness, and ruthless ambition, and it came to describe formidable or unscrupulous leaders.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

那只枭站在树枝上。

Nà zhī xiāo zhàn zài shùzhī shàng.

That owl is standing on the branch.

据说枭是一种夜行性鸟类。

Jùshuō xiāo shì yī zhǒng yèxíngxìng niǎolèi.

It is said that the owl is a nocturnal bird.

他在游戏里选择了一个叫"枭"的角色。

Tā zài yóuxì lǐ xuǎnzéle yīgè jiào "xiāo" de juésè.

He chose a character named "Xiao" in the game.

历史上，曹操常被称为一代枭雄。

Lìshǐ shàng, Cáo Cāo cháng bèi chēng wéi yīdài xiāoxióng.

Historically, Cao Cao is often called a formidable and ambitious hero of his generation.

警方展开行动，决心枭灭那个犯罪团伙。

Jǐngfāng zhǎnkāi xíngdòng, juéxīn xiāo miè nàgè fànzuì tuánhuǒ.

The police launched an operation, determined to decimate that criminal gang.

这位将军的枭悍作风让敌人闻风丧胆。

Zhè wèi jiāngjūn de xiāo hàn zuòfēng ràng dírén wén fēng sàngdǎn.

The general's fierce and bold style made the enemy tremble with fear.

在乱世中，他凭借计谋与实力，终成一代枭雄。

Zài luànshì zhōng, tā píngjiè jìmóu yǔ shílì, zhōng chéng yīdài xiāoxióng.

In the chaotic times, relying on his strategies and strength, he finally became a formidable overlord of his generation.

这幅古画描绘了枭首示众的残酷场面。

Zhè fú gǔhuà miáohuìle xiāoshǒu shìzhòng de cánkù chǎngmiàn.

This ancient painting depicts the cruel scene of displaying a severed head as a warning.

Related Characters

Component: ④

Component: 木

枭