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Kotomora

獣

animal, beast

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジュウ

Kun'yomi

  • けもの
  • けだもの

Meaning

獣 centers on wild, non-human creatures: animals and beasts, often with a connotation of ferocity or untamed nature.

Most common words using 獣

20 of 118
  • 獣けもの
    N1

    beast; brute; animal

  • 怪獣かいじゅう
    N1

    monster

  • 野獣やじゅう

    wild beast; wild animal; brute

  • 獣医じゅうい

    veterinarian; veterinary surgeon; vet

  • 猛獣もうじゅう

    fierce animal; beast of prey; big game

  • 美女と野獣びじょとやじゅう

    Beauty and the Beast (fairy tale)

  • 鳥獣ちょうじゅう

    birds and wild animals; wildlife

  • 珍獣ちんじゅう

    rare (or peculiar) animal

  • 淫獣いんじゅう

    lustful beast; lascivious monster

  • 霊獣れいじゅう

    sacred beast

  • 百獣ひゃくじゅう

    all kinds of animals

  • 一角獣いっかくじゅう

    unicorn

  • 巨獣きょじゅう

    large animal

  • 海獣かいじゅう

    marine mammal

  • 獣類じゅうるい

    beasts; mammals

  • 三角縁神獣鏡さんかくぶちしんじゅうきょう

    ancient triangular-rimmed mirror decorated with gods and animals

  • 獣肉じゅうにく

    animal flesh

  • 獣耳けものみみ

    kemonomimi; character with animal ears

  • アフリカ獣上目アフリカじゅうじょうもく

    Afrotheria (superorder of mammals of African origin)

  • 亀甲獣骨文字きっこうじゅうこつもじ

    oracle bone script

Explore all words using 獣 →

Study

Etymology

獣 is the modern simplified form of 獸. The older form combines 犬 (dog/beast) with a phonetic component on the left that also relates to hunting or wild animals. The modern simplification retains 犬 on the right and a reduced left side.

Meaning mnemonic

The right side is 犬 (dog), a familiar animal. The left side looks like a simplified snout and body. Together they form a generic beast: 獣 is an animal.

Reading mnemonic

For ジュウ, imagine a beast in a zoo: zoo -> ジュウ, and the animal paces inside its enclosure.