獰
bad
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- ドウ
- ネイ
Kun'yomi
- わる.い
Meaning
獰 centers on a fierce, untamed badness, like a wild animal's ferocity. It describes something inherently vicious or cruel.
Most common words using 獰
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Etymology
獰 combines the beast radical 犭 with 寧, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character expresses the idea of a fierce, bad-tempered animal.
Meaning mnemonic
A wild beast 犭 combined with a complex shape 寧 suggests something untamed and dangerous. Picture a snarling animal that embodies pure badness.
Reading mnemonic
For ドウ, imagine a fierce dog (like a Doberman) growling: dog -> ドウ, and its bad temper matches the kanji's meaning.