adjective HSK 5
Traditional 兇猛
xiōng měng
fierce · ferocious · violent

Meaning

凶猛 describes something or someone that is extremely aggressive, violent, or fierce in nature. It commonly refers to wild animals, attacks, or forces of nature that are dangerous and overwhelming. The word combines 凶 (violent, inauspicious) with 猛 (fierce, vigorous) to intensify the meaning.

Usage

This word is frequently used to describe wild animals like tigers, lions, or wolves, emphasizing their dangerous predatory nature. It can also describe violent weather phenomena, fierce military attacks, or aggressive behavior. The tone is serious and carries a sense of genuine threat or danger.

Examples

  1. 01
    老虎是一种非常凶猛的动物。
    Lǎo shì zhǒng fēi cháng xiōng měng de dòng .
    Tigers are very fierce animals.
  2. 02
    敌人发动了凶猛的进攻。
    rén dòng le xiōng měng de jìn gōng.
    The enemy launched a fierce attack.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 凶猛的动物
    xiōng měng de dòng
    fierce animal
  • 凶猛的攻击
    xiōng měng de gōng
    fierce attack
  • 性情凶猛
    xìng qíng xiōng měng
    fierce temperament

Antonyms

Origin

The character 凶 originally depicted violence or misfortune, while 猛 contains the dog radical (犬) and suggests fierce animal behavior. Together they create an intensified meaning of ferocity.

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