屠夫

túfū

noun #8,580

Measure Word

一个屠夫 gè

Meanings

1 butcher
2 (figurative) slaughterer; brutal person

Characters

to slaughter; to butcher

man; husband (suffix for occupation)

Slaughter + man — a man who slaughters animals for a living.

Examples

屠夫在市场上卖肉。

Túfū zài shìchǎng shàng mài ròu.

The butcher sells meat at the market.

这个屠夫的手艺很好。

Zhège túfū de shǒuyì hěn hǎo.

This butcher is very skilled.

人们称他为战场上的屠夫。

Rénmen chēng tā wéi zhànchǎng shàng de túfū.

People called him the butcher of the battlefield.

Tips

history

In ancient China, butchering was considered a low-class profession. However, several famous historical figures were butchers, including 樊哙 (Fán Kuài), a loyal general of Liu Bang who founded the Han dynasty. The idiom 杀猪的屠夫 became a symbol of rough but brave men.

usage

屠夫 can be used figuratively to describe someone who kills ruthlessly: 刽子手 (guìzishǒu, executioner) is similar but more specifically refers to one who executes people.

Stroke Order

屠 tú

夫 fū