violent, savage, cruel, bold

JLPT N1 11 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (měng) primarily describes something fierce, violent, or intense. It often conveys a sense of strong force or boldness, whether referring to animals, actions, or attitudes.

Common Contexts

  1. Describing animals or natural forces as fierce or savage, e.g., (fierce tiger).
  2. Describing sudden or forceful actions, e.g., (jumped suddenly).
  3. Describing aggressive behavior or intensity in competition or effort.

Collocations and Patterns

  • (fierce tiger): emphasizes animal ferocity.
  • 猛烈 (měng liè): an intensifier meaning 'fierce' or 'violent', often used with actions or emotions.
  • + verb: indicates a sudden, forceful action.

Usage Notes

When using , the tone is often vivid and dynamic, suitable for emphasizing strength or intensity. It is more forceful than words like (strong) and often implies a sudden or powerful impact. Avoid using for gentle or moderate situations.

Common Confusion

is sometimes confused with , but emphasizes fierceness and intensity, while is more about strength or capability without necessarily implying violence or suddenness.

Example Sentences

That fierce tiger runs freely in the forest.

He jumped suddenly to dodge the flying ball.

Both sides played very aggressively in this match.