狩

shòu

守 + 犭

Definitions

shòu to hunt; to go hunting (as winter sport in former times); hunting dog; imperial tour

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 守 represents the sound.

Semantic: 犭 Phonetic: 守

About

狩 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 犭 and the phonetic component 守. 犭, a simplification of 犬 (dog), indicates an action related to animals. 守 (meaning to guard or protect) provides the pronunciation shǒu, which here is read shòu. Historically, it referred to a winter hunting expedition, a seasonal activity often reserved for the nobility or emperor. Over time, the meaning expanded beyond hunting to include official imperial inspection tours, during which the ruler traveled through the territories to display authority and inspect the realm. This dual usage merges the ideas of hunting and governing.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

爸爸去狩猎了。

Bàba qù shòuliè le.

Dad went hunting.

狩猎需要耐心。

Shòuliè xūyào nàixīn.

Hunting requires patience.

他们计划周末去狩猎。

Tāmen jìhuà zhōumò qù shòuliè.

They plan to go hunting on the weekend.

在古代，狩猎是重要的活动。

Zài gǔdài, shòuliè shì zhòngyào de huódòng.

In ancient times, hunting was an important activity.

为了保护动物，禁止非法狩猎。

Wèile bǎohù dòngwù, jìnzhǐ fēifǎ shòuliè.

To protect animals, illegal hunting is prohibited.

狩猎季节通常从秋天开始。

Shòuliè jìjié tōngcháng cóng qiūtiān kāishǐ.

Hunting season usually starts in autumn.

他们使用先进的工具进行狩猎。

Tāmen shǐyòng xiānjìn de gōngjù jìnxíng shòuliè.

They use advanced tools for hunting.

狩猎不仅是为了获取食物，也是一种传统。

Shòuliè bùjǐn shì wèile huòqǔ shíwù, yě shì yī zhǒng chuántǒng.

Hunting is not only for obtaining food, but also a tradition.

Related Characters

Component: 守

Component: 犭

狩