How to Write 豢 (huàn) — Meaning “To domesticate”

Picture a farmer’s hand (龹) reaching down to give food to a pig (豕). The pig is getting used to being fed, so it becomes domesticated — think "hand + pig = huan the pig is tamed." This visual link helps you recall both the shape and meaning of 豢.

The top part 龹 has 6 strokes: first a dot, then two short horizontal lines, then a vertical hook, then two left-falling strokes. The bottom 豕 has 7 strokes starting with a horizontal line, and its two "leg" strokes should be balanced on both sides. A common mistake is making the top too wide or the bottom too narrow.

豢 has a complex top (龹) and means "to domesticate," while 豚 has a simple top (屯) and means "piglet" or "suckling pig." 豙 is very rare and usually refers to a type of pig, but it looks different because its top is just a "点" (dot) above 豕. Visual clue: 豢 is the only one with a multi-stroke top.

豢 is mostly used in formal or written language, especially in the word 豢养 (huàn yǎng), meaning "to raise" or "to breed" animals. It can also be used metaphorically, like 豢养恶习 (to nurture bad habits), and appears in texts about agriculture or animal husbandry. Culturally, it reflects ancient Chinese tradition of hand-raising pigs for food.

Common words containing 豢 include: 豢养 (huàn yǎng) — To raise or breed; 豢畜 (huàn chù) — To raise livestock; 豢养者 (huàn yǎng zhě) — Breeder or keeper.