猖狂

• Pinyin: chāng kuáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 猖 = 犭(dog radical) + 昌 (prosperous, phonetic — here implying unchecked growth); 狂 = 犭(dog radical) + 王 (king, phonetic)

Meaning

Rampant; brazen; wildly aggressive; unbridled. Describes behaviour or activity that is out of control, arrogant, and dangerously unchecked.

Has a strong negative connotation and is almost always used to criticise or condemn. Common in media, political, and legal discourse to describe criminal activity, hostile forces, or extreme behaviour (猖狂进攻, 猖狂肆虐). NOT used to compliment someone's boldness or confidence — use 大胆 or 果断 for those. The 犭(dog) radical in both characters signals animalistic, unrestrained behaviour.

Examples

1. 网络诈骗活动近年来日益猖狂，监管部门已联合多方力量展开专项整治行动。 Online fraud has become increasingly rampant in recent years, and regulators have launched a targeted crackdown in coordination with multiple agencies.
2. 面对侵略者的猖狂进攻，守军誓死坚守阵地，无一人擅自撤退。 In the face of the aggressors' brazen assault, the defenders vowed to hold their positions to the death, with not a single person retreating without orders.
3. 该犯罪团伙在当地横行多年，手段猖狂，给群众造成了极大的恐慌。 This criminal gang had run rampant in the area for years, employing brutal methods that caused enormous panic among local residents.

Usage Guide

Context: news, politics, law enforcement, history, criticism

Tone: condemnatory

Do Say

• 这股势力最猖狂的时期，几乎垄断了整个地区的非法运输网络。(At the height of this faction's rampage, it had virtually monopolised the entire region's illegal transport network.)
• 记者在报道中揭露了该团伙猖狂敛财、欺压百姓的种种恶行。(The journalist's report exposed the gang's brazen extortion and oppression of ordinary people.)

Don't Say

• 他猖狂地完成了这项挑战。(猖狂 carries a strong condemnatory tone — for bold achievement use 大胆地 or 勇敢地: 他勇敢地完成了这项挑战)

Origin & History

猖 (fierce, unruly) + 狂 (mad, wild). Both characters carry the 犭(dog) radical, suggesting animalistic, unrestrained aggression.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal