WHOLE CHARACTER
猫
the cat — a small furred animal with claws that catches mice; (dialect) to hide
猫 is the cat — and the beloved 熊猫 'panda' is the bear-cat.
ZDIC: 形声，从犭、苗声.
Character Familiesleft / right
猫
the cat — a small furred animal with claws that catches mice; (dialect) to hide
猫 is the cat — and the beloved 熊猫 'panda' is the bear-cat.
GF0025–2021 character list · 二级One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.
WHOLE GLYPH & STRUCTURE
left / right
ZDIC: 形声，从犭、苗声.
MEANING: THE ANIMAL SIDE (ZDIC 从犭)
犭
the dog radical (from 犬)
A bound radical form of 犬; marks dog-related meanings.
In 猫: meaning: the animal side (ZDIC 从犭) The dog/animal radical.
SOUND SIDE: 苗 (MIÁO)
苗
a seedling; a sprout
A standalone character (miáo, sprout); when a character keeps it as a piece, the sound role is stated on that character's page.
In 猫: sound side: 苗 (miáo) māo shares the m- opening; the finals differ (iao vs ao) — a sound hint, not an exact match.
Tone 1
- the cat — a small furred animal with claws that catches mice
- (dialect) to hide
- 熊猫panda
- 猫咪kitty; cat
Tone 2set compounds; dialect
- to bend the body down (in 猫腰, also written 毛腰)
Bound in the compound 猫腰; kept without learner words.
No common modern word is offered for this reading; the dictionary sense remains in Sources.
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