beast

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 獣 has 16 strokes and means beast or animal. It appears in terms for animal care and trails.
• Basic usage: 獣医 is read じゅうい, and 獣道 is read けものみち.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A profession and a trail
  • The 獣 in 獣医 is read じゅう.
  • In 獣医がけがをした犬の足を診察した, a veterinarian examined an injured dog's leg.
  • The 獣 in 獣道 is read けもの.
  • 獣道 names an animal trail.