獸

Specifically refers to four-legged, furred mammals (beasts), often emphasizing those that are heavy-bodied or predatory. In ethical contexts, it can denote the state of raw instinct—such as appetite, rage, or lust—unmediated by culture.

• Taxonomic: Distinct from 禽 (birds/feathered creatures), 魚 (fish), and 蟲 (insects, reptiles, and other small creatures). For "animals in general," see 物 or the collective pairing 禽獸.
• Ecological: Contrasted with 畜 (domestic livestock); 獸 refers to animals that are wild, untamed, or predatory.
• Philosophical: Often used as the antithesis of 人 (human). In Confucian contexts, it typically denotes a lack of ritual propriety (禮) and humanity (仁). In certain Daoist contexts, it may suggest a return to primordial authenticity (樸).

Simplified variant: 兽 (U+517D). Tang-period reading: *shiòu.

If the text uses 獸 to describe an animal that is typically domestic, it likely suggests a state of wildness, ferocity, or a reversion to an unmanaged state.