Learn a Chinese Character - 猎

1. Character Basics

Radical: 犭 (quǎn, dog radical)

Stroke Count: 11

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: liè (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

To hunt; hunt; hunting; pursue; search for; chase; seek; track down; catch; capture; prey on; go hunting; search; quest; pursue game; chase after

4. Common Words

• 猎人 (lièrén) - hunter
• 打猎 (dǎliè) - to hunt; go hunting
• 猎枪 (lièqiāng) - hunting rifle; shotgun
• 猎物 (lièwù) - prey; game
• 猎捕 (lièbǔ) - to hunt and capture
• 猎场 (lièchǎng) - hunting ground
• 猎奇 (lièqí) - to seek novelty; to hunt for curiosities
• 围猎 (wéiliè) - to hunt in groups; driven hunt

5. Grammar & Usage

"猎" is primarily used as a verb meaning "to hunt" or "to pursue". It can also function as a noun or part of compound words related to hunting.

Common structures include "打猎" (to go hunting), "猎+名词" (to hunt + noun), and "猎+动词" (to hunt and + verb).

In modern contexts, it can be used metaphorically, such as "猎奇" (to seek novelty) or "猎头" (headhunting for talent).

6. Cultural Background

Hunting has played an important role in Chinese culture throughout history, both as a means of subsistence and as a royal pastime.

The character "猎" with the dog radical (犭) at the left reflects the historical connection between dogs and hunting in Chinese society.

In traditional Chinese literature and art, hunting scenes often symbolize power, skill, and connection to nature, while in modern times, hunting is more regulated and often viewed in the context of wildlife conservation.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "猎" consists of 犭 (dog radical) on the left and 昔 (xī, past) and 羽 (yǔ, feather) on the right.

You can remember it as "a dog (犭) hunting birds (羽) from the past (昔)" or visualize a hunting dog chasing birds, which connects to the meaning of hunting.

The dog radical is a key component to remember, as it directly relates to the traditional practice of using dogs in hunting.