雄

A phono-semantic compound:

隹 (“bird”) provides the semantic element.

厷 (gong/ung, “arm, might”) provides the phonetic element.

Originally referred to male birds, then broadened.

英雄 (영웅) – hero;

雄大 (웅대) – grand, magnificent;

雄壯 (웅장) – majestic, imposing;

雄心 (웅심) – ambition, heroic spirit;

雄飛 (웅비) – soaring, vigorous advancement.

In Han dynasty, the sense shifted from strictly zoological (male birds) to broader (all male animals).

From there, it acquired metaphorical senses of strength, grandeur, and heroism.

In Japanese:

雄 (osu) = male (animal).

雄 (yū) = hero, leader, powerful figure (e.g., 戦国の雄 = “a powerful lord of the Warring States period,” not “male of the Warring States”).

In classical literature, 雄 symbolizes strength, dominance, and vitality, often contrasted with 雌 to reflect yin-yang polarity (雄 = yang, active; 雌 = yin, passive).

Used in idioms and poetry to praise great men, rulers, and generals.