noun HSK 5
fierce tiger · ferocious tiger
Meaning
猛虎 refers to a fierce, powerful tiger, emphasizing the aggressive and dangerous nature of the animal. It's used both literally to describe actual tigers and metaphorically to represent brave, powerful, or formidable people or forces.
Usage
This word appears frequently in literary contexts, idioms, and formal descriptions. It's often used metaphorically in military or sports contexts to describe courageous warriors or strong competitors. The term carries heroic connotations when describing people.
Examples
- 01他在球场上像猛虎一样勇猛。.He is as fierce as a tiger on the sports field.
- 02这支军队被称为猛虎之师。.This military force is called an army of fierce tigers.
Characters
Measure words
- 只一只猛虎
- 头两头猛虎
Common collocations
- 猛虎下山fierce tiger descending the mountain (idiom: powerful force in action)
- 如猛虎一般like a fierce tiger
- 猛虎出笼fierce tiger released from cage (metaphor for unleashed power)
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 猛 (fierce) and 虎 (tiger) creates an intensified description of the tiger's naturally fearsome qualities. Tigers have held symbolic importance in Chinese culture for millennia as emblems of power and courage.