About
The character 枭, originating from its traditional form 梟, etymologically represents a bird on a tree, specifically denoting the owl, a creature historically associated with foreboding and ferocity in Chinese cultural interpretations. Its structural makeup, combining elements for bird and wood, visually captured the owl's arboreal nature. Through linguistic evolution, the term's application broadened from the literal bird to metaphorically describe individuals possessing a ruthless and ambitious character, often used in compounds such as 枭雄 to signify a formidable and scheming leader, thus marking a shift from zoological reference to human analogy over time.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
那只枭站在树枝上。
据说枭是一种夜行性鸟类。
他在游戏里选择了一个叫"枭"的角色。
历史上，曹操常被称为一代枭雄。
警方展开行动，决心枭灭那个犯罪团伙。
这位将军的枭悍作风让敌人闻风丧胆。
在乱世中，他凭借计谋与实力，终成一代枭雄。
这幅古画描绘了枭首示众的残酷场面。