猛獣(もうじゅう)

もうじゅう
noun
wild beast; ferocious animal
1. wild beast; ferocious animal; beast of prey
A large, dangerous animal such as a lion, tiger, or bear. Used in contexts involving zoos, wildlife, and figurative descriptions of fierceness.
猛獣(もうじゅう)に注意(ちゅうい)。
Beware of dangerous animals.
動物園(どうぶつえん)で猛獣(もうじゅう)が檻(おり)から逃(に)げた。
A wild beast escaped from its cage at the zoo.
猛獣(もうじゅう)の飼育(しいく)には特別(とくべつ)な許可(きょか)と設備(せつび)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
Keeping wild beasts requires special permits and facilities.

猛獣(もうじゅう) refers to large, dangerous animals such as lions, tigers, bears, and other powerful predators. It does not apply to small or harmless wild animals.

WORD FORMATION:
猛(もう) (fierce, violent) + 獣(じゅう) (beast). The character 猛(もう) also appears in 猛烈(もうれつ) (fierce), 猛暑(もうしょ) (intense heat).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 猛獣(もうじゅう)使(つか)い: animal tamer (circus/show)
  • 猛獣(もうじゅう)に襲(おそ)われる: to be attacked by a wild beast
  • 猛獣(もうじゅう)の檻(おり): cage for dangerous animals
  • 猛獣(もうじゅう)に注意(ちゅうい): beware of dangerous animals

CONTRAST:

  • 猛獣(もうじゅう): ferocious/dangerous animal
  • 野生(やせい)動物(どうぶつ): wild animal (any species)
  • 害獣(がいじゅう): pest animal (causing damage to crops, etc.)
general
Added 2026.3.8 17:47 · Revised 2026.3.28 9:56
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