Definitions

an amphibious beast resembling a tiger with one horn; place name

Etymology

Origin unclear. depicts a tiger.

About

The origin of is unclear, but it is often explained as a phono-semantic compound: the tiger radical (from , a depiction of a tiger) hints at a tiger-like beast, while the lower component supplies the ancient pronunciation. In classical literature, the character denoted a mythical amphibious creature resembling a horned tiger, able to move on land and in water. It was also adopted as a proper noun for certain ancient places and rivers. Its meaning is thus confined to these specialized archaic contexts, referring either to the legendary animal or to an obscure historical toponym.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern