猖

A phono-semantic compound:

犬 (견) — semantic component, indicating animalistic behavior, wildness

昌 (창) — phonetic component, supplying the sound (창 / chāng)

The character portrays unrestrained, animal-like frenzy, with 昌 contributing the sense of spreading or flourishing, reinforcing the idea of unchecked excess.

Semantic development:

- animal frenzy — wild, uncontrolled movement

- social disorder — chaos, rampage

- abstract excess — rampant spread (disease, violence, vice)

猖 appears mostly in literary, formal, or evaluative contexts, often describing social disorder or extreme behavior.

Common compounds:

창궐 (猖獗) — to run rampant; to spread violently

미쳐날뛰다 (猖하다) — to rage; to go berserk

창란 (猖亂) — chaotic upheaval (classical)

Figurative usage:

전염병이 창궐하다 — an epidemic runs rampant

범죄가 창하다 — crime rages unchecked

Unlike 狂 (mad, insane), 猖 emphasizes uncontrolled spreading and disorder rather than individual madness.

Related characters (madness & rampancy):

狂 — mad; insane

亂 — chaos; disorder

暴 — violent; brutal

獗 — rampant; fierce

兇 — ferocious

Among these, 猖 uniquely frames chaos as animal-like frenzy spreading outward.