Definitions

(noun) raccoon dog; wild cat

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "狸" is structured with the "豸" radical, denoting a beast or animal, combined with the phonetic component "里" to indicate its sound. Initially, in classical Chinese texts, it served as a broad term for small wild animals, particularly those with feline or mustelid traits. Over time, its application became more zoologically precise, shifting to refer specifically to the raccoon dog, a canid species, a change that reflects both linguistic specialization and adjustments in common nomenclature. Throughout this semantic transition, the character's form has remained unchanged, consistently retaining its composite nature from earlier periods.

Example Sentences Hide

一只狐在跑。

Yī zhī húli zài pǎo.

A fox is running.

猫喜欢夜晚。

Límāo xǐhuān yèwǎn.

Raccoon dogs like the night.

的尾巴很蓬松。

Húli de wěiba hěn péngsōng.

The fox's tail is very fluffy.

那只猫在树上睡觉。

Nà zhī límāo zài shù shàng shuìjiào.

That raccoon dog is sleeping on the tree.

悄悄地穿过草丛。

Húli qiāoqiāo de chuānguò cǎocóng.

The fox quietly passes through the grass.

猫和狐都是夜行动物。

Límāo hé húli dōu shì yèxíng dòngwù.

Raccoon dogs and foxes are both nocturnal animals.

当月亮升起时,猫开始觅食。

Dāng yuèliang shēngqǐ shí, límāo kāishǐ mìshí.

When the moon rises, the raccoon dog starts to forage.

由于栖息地破坏,猫的数量逐渐减少。

Yóuyú qīxīdì pòhuài, límāo de shùliàng zhújiàn jiǎnshǎo.

Due to habitat destruction, the number of raccoon dogs is gradually decreasing.