About
熊 combines 能, an ancient pictograph of a bear, with 大 (big). Originally, the graph 能 alone meant 'bear', but it was habitually borrowed for its sound to convey 'ability' or 'capability'. To resolve the ambiguity, 大 was added, creating the distinct character 熊 for the animal. Over time, 熊 permanently assumed the literal bear meaning, while 能 retained only the abstract sense of talent or power. The addition of 大 not only settled the semantic confusion but also subtly underscores the bear's imposing size.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
森林里有一只熊。
熊猫是中国的国宝。
那个熊孩子很调皮。
熊在冬天会冬眠。
我们去看熊表演吧。
股市最近进入了熊市。
虽然熊看起来很可爱，但它们是危险的动物。
为了保护熊的栖息地，政府建立了自然保护区。
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