About
The character 獠 is a phono-semantic compound. The left-side radical 犭 (quǎn), meaning "canine" or "beast", provides the semantic category of an animal. The right-side component 尞 (liáo) functions as the phonetic marker. Its primary meaning refers to the long, protruding teeth or fangs of wild animals, such as wolves or boars, which directly explains the use of the animal radical. This meaning extends to describe a fierce, savage, or terrifying appearance, evoking the image of a beast baring its fangs. The structure thus clearly associates the character with wildness and intimidating predatory features.
Etymology Hide
