About
The character "狠" is structured with the canine radical 犭 alongside the component 艮, a combination that originally denoted dog-like aggression or tenacity. Its early meanings focused on animal ferocity, particularly the viciousness of dogs, but over time it expanded to describe human qualities of ruthlessness, severity, and resolute determination. This semantic shift allowed the character to later serve as an adverb indicating a high degree, such as in constructions meaning "very" or "extremely", while still maintaining its foundational sense of harshness. The graphical form of the character has persisted without major alteration, and its constituent parts continue to echo its etymological connection to bestial fierceness adapted to metaphorical human conduct.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他狠心拒绝了帮助。
老板对他很凶狠。
敌人发动了狠毒的攻击。
他狠命地跑向终点。
这场竞争非常狠辣。
狠心之下，他放弃了梦想。
面对狠毒的批评，他保持了沉默。
在商战中，狠辣的手段有时是必要的。