About
The character 狐 is a phono-semantic compound structured with the semantic component 犭, a variant of 犬 denoting 'dog' or canine, which categorizes it as an animal, and the phonetic component 瓜, which historically provided a clue to its pronunciation. While the core meaning of 狐 has always been 'fox,' its application broadened to encompass metaphorical connotations such as cunning or doubt, evident in lexical items like 狐疑. The phonetic relationship between 狐 and 瓜 has diverged, with 狐 now pronounced hú in modern Mandarin while 瓜 is read guā, reflecting shifts in phonology over the centuries without altering the character's fundamental composition.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
那只狐狸很聪明。
狐狸在森林里奔跑。
狡猾的狐狸骗了乌鸦。
他露出了狐狸的尾巴。
这个故事里有一个狐仙。
他对这个提议满心狐疑。
她的眼神带着一丝狐媚。
传说中，狐狸可以修炼成精。