male · heroic

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is ゆう, and the kun readings are お and おす. It has 12 strokes. It appears in words for male animals and heroes.
• Basic usage: 雄 is read おす and 英雄 is read えいゆう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 雄 / 英雄
  • 雄 means male animal and is read おす. It refers to a male animal such as a bird or bull.
  • この鳥は羽の色が鮮やかな雄だ。 means “This brightly colored bird is male.”
  • 英雄 means hero and is read えいゆう. It refers to a hero who saves a village or is honored by people.
  • 物語の英雄は竜から村を救った。 means “The hero in the story saved the village from a dragon.”