獣 means “beast, wild animal”

けもの · kemono

Also: animal

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

けもの, けだもの

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ジュウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 16 strokes

The story

Picture a hound (犬) facing down something big and wild: 獣 is a beast. 怪獣 are the giant monsters of Godzilla films, a 獣医 is a vet, and 美女と野獣 is Beauty and the Beast.

Used in 獣 (kemono, beast), 獣医 (juui, veterinarian), and 怪獣 (kaijuu, monster)

More from Beasts & Wings

• 殻 shell
• 鶏 chicken
• 雌 female (animal)
• 蛍 firefly
• 牙 fang
• 蚊 mosquito
• 蜂 bee
• 雄 male (animal)
• 尾 tail
• 翼 wing
• 鶴 crane
• 巣 nest

Learn 獣 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.