About
The traditional character 獰 is a phono-semantic compound comprising the beast radical 犭 to signify its semantic domain and the component 寧 serving as a phonetic indicator for the reading níng, with its meaning of "ferocious" or "hideous" initially describing the fierce aspect of animals before extending to human expressions or conduct. Its simplified form 狞 maintains the radical 犭 but replaces the phonetic with 宁, which also approximates the pronunciation while upholding the link to bestial qualities, and the character's core connotation of savagery or grotesqueness has remained consistent through its historical use.
Example Sentences Hide
他的表情很狰狞。
怪兽的样子非常狰狞。
在黑暗中，他的脸显得狰狞。
这部电影的反派角色很狰狞。
风暴中的海浪显得狰狞。
他的内心充满了狰狞的念头。
随着局势恶化，他的表情越来越狰狞。
在神话故事中，恶魔的形象被描绘得极其狰狞。