熊

• Pinyin: xióng
• Hanzi breakdown: 熊 = 能 (able, phonetic) + 灬 (fire/legs), originally a pictograph of a bear

Meaning

Bear. A large omnivorous mammal known for its strength.

Besides the animal, 熊 is used in expressions like 熊孩子 (naughty child, literally 'bear child') and as a verb meaning to scold in some dialects. The giant panda 大熊猫 contains this character. Also a common surname.

Examples

1. 动物园里的熊正在懒洋洋地晒太阳。 The bear in the zoo is lazily basking in the sun.
2. 我们在森林里看到了一只黑熊的脚印。 We saw black bear footprints in the forest.
3. 大熊猫是中国的国宝。 The giant panda is China's national treasure.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, nature, colloquial

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这只熊看起来很温顺。(This bear looks very gentle.)
• 别当熊孩子，听话一点。(Don't be a naughty kid, behave yourself.)

Don't Say

• 你真熊 in formal writing (This colloquial usage meaning 'useless/cowardly' is too informal for written contexts)

Origin & History

Pictograph depicting a bear. The bottom part shows four dots representing the legs.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal