狮

獅
shī
师 + 犭

Definitions

shī (bound form) lion

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 师 represents the sound. Simplified form of 獅.

Semantic: 犭 Phonetic: 师

About

狮 is a simplified form of 獅, a phonosemantic compound created for the lion, an animal not native to early China. The left component, 犭 (the animal radical, derived from 犬), marks it as a beast, while the right component, 师 (simplified from 師), gives the pronunciation shī. This sound was chosen to approximate the ancient Iranian or Persian word for lion, reflecting the animal's introduction to the Chinese court as foreign tribute.

Example Sentences Hide

那只狮子很威猛。

Nà zhī shīzi hěn wēiměng.

That lion is very fierce.

公园门口有石头狮子。

Gōngyuán ménkǒu yǒu shítou shīzi.

There are stone lions at the park entrance.

狮子是草原上的王者。

Shīzi shì cǎoyuán shàng de wáng zhě.

The lion is the king of the grassland.

舞狮表演非常精彩。

Wǔshī biǎoyǎn fēicháng jīngcǎi.

The lion dance performance is very exciting.

这尊青铜狮子是文物。

Zhè zūn qīngtóng shīzi shì wénwù.

This bronze lion is a cultural relic.

狮子捕获了一头羚羊。

Shīzi bǔhuò le yī tóu língyáng.

The lion caught an antelope.

他有着狮子般的勇气。

Tā yǒu zhe shīzi bān de yǒngqì.

He has lion-like courage.

摄影师在拍摄狮群捕食。

Shèyǐngshī zài pāishè shī qún bǔshí.

The photographer is filming the pride of lions hunting.

Related Characters

Component: 师

筛 蛳 浉

Component: 犭

独 犯 狂 猛 犹 狗 狱 猜 狠 猫 猎 狼 猪 猩

Example Words

狮子 狮子座 石狮 舞狮 海狮 狮城 狮子山 狮子狗 狮子头 狮泉河 狮虎兽 狮鹫 石狮子 石狮市 美洲狮 雄狮 松狮犬