獣
animal, beast
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
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.