四足獸 / 四足兽
sì zú shòu
The English word 'beast' can be translated into Chinese as 四足獸 / 四足兽 (sì zú shòu), 獸 / 兽 or 野獸 / 野兽.
Meaning: non-human animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 四足獸 / 四足兽 | sì zú shòu |
| 獸 / 兽 | shòu |
| 野獸 / 野兽 | yěshòu |
Depending on the context, you may use a term that describes a physical attribute, a general biological reference or a wild animal. The single character 獸 / 兽 is often used in formal, literary or biological contexts to refer to animals or beasts.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 四足獸 / 四足兽 (sì zú shòu) literally translates to 'four-legged beast'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on what aspect of the beast you wish to emphasize: 四足獸 / 四足兽 focuses on the physical attribute of having four legs, whereas 野獸 / 野兽 specifically emphasizes that the beast is wild or untamed.
How do you pronounce it?
sì zú shòu
Did you know?
- In Chinese, calling someone a 獸 / 兽 is a severe insult, suggesting they have lost their human morality and reverted to a primal, predatory state.
- The character 獸 / 兽 evolved from an 'exopassive' form of the verb 'to hunt', meaning it literally identifies the animal as 'the thing that is hunted'.
- In classical Chinese poetry, the word 獸 / 兽 can sometimes be used as a metaphor for the untamed passions of the human heart.
Examples in context
- 在这篇学术论文中，我们将讨论各种动物，包括野兽和猛兽。In this academic paper, we will discuss various animals, including wild beasts and ferocious beasts.
- 我听说这个传说中的猛兽很吓人。I heard that this mythical beast is very frightening.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beast” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 獸, CC BY-SA 4.0.
