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A phono-semantic compound, 獒 combines the semantic radical 犬 (dog) with the phonetic 敖 (áo), which also hints at fierceness or pride. It denotes a large, ferocious dog, most notably the Tibetan Mastiff, historically bred for guarding livestock and property, and appears in contexts related to dog breeds, guard animals, or literary depictions of formidable beasts.
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