狼
wolf
Readings
On'yomi
- ロウ
Kun'yomi
- おおかみ
Meaning
狼 centers on the animal wolf, a wild canine known for its fierce and cunning nature.
Most common words using 狼
20 of 52- 狼おおかみ
wolf (Canis lupus)
- 一匹狼いっぴきおおかみ
lone wolf; loner; self-reliant person
- 狼狽ろうばい
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic
- 狼煙のろし
beacon; skyrocket; signal fire; smoke signals
- 餓狼がろう
hungry wolf
- 狼狽えるうろたえる
to be flustered; to lose one's presence of mind
- 狼藉ろうぜき
disorder; confusion
- エチオピア狼エチオピアおおかみ
Ethiopian wolf (carnivore, Canis simensis); Abyssinia jackal; simian jackal; simenian jackal; simenian wolf
- シメニア狼シメニアおおかみ
simenian wolf (Canis simensis); Abyssinia jackal; simian jackal; simenian jackal; Ethiopian wolf
- タスマニア狼タスマニアおおかみ
Tasmanian wolf
- フォークランド狼フォークランドおおかみ
Falkland Islands wolf (Dusicyon australis); warrah; Falkland Islands dog; Falkland Islands fox; Antarctic wolf
- 乱暴狼藉らんぼうろうぜき
running amok; committing an outrage; rampageous behavior
- 人狼じんろう
werewolf
- 前虎後狼ぜんここうろう
one calamity followed close on the heels of another; out of the frying pan into the fire; tiger in front, wolf in the back
- 前門の虎、後門の狼ぜんもんのとら、こうもんのおおかみ
between the devil and the deep sea; out of the frying pan into the fire; a tiger at the front gate, a wolf at the back gate
- 北極狼ほっきょくおおかみ
Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos)
- 周章狼狽しゅうしょうろうばい
consternation; falling into a panic; fluster; confusion; dismay; discomfiture
- 大陸狼たいりくおおかみ
(European) gray wolf (carnivore, Canis lupus lupus); grey wolf
- 天狼てんろう
Sirius (star in the constellation Canis Major); Alpha Canis Majoris; the Dog Star
- 天狼星てんろうせい
Sirius (star in the constellation Canis Major); Alpha Canis Majoris; the Dog Star
Study
Etymology
狼 combines the animal radical 犭 with 良, which likely contributes the sound. The character specifically denotes a wolf.
Meaning mnemonic
The animal radical 犭 hints at a beast, and the right side 良 looks like a good (良) but fierce creature. Picture a wolf that is good at hunting.
Reading mnemonic
For ロウ, imagine a wolf letting out a low, rumbling growl: low -> ロウ. The wolf's low growl echoes through the forest.