Definition
饕 is a bound form (b.f.) that almost never appears alone in modern Chinese. Its core meaning is 'gluttonous' or 'greedy,' and it is chiefly encountered as the first syllable of the fixed compound 饕餮 (tāotiè), which refers to a mythical fierce beast in Chinese mythology known for its insatiable appetite — and, by extension, to an extremely greedy or voracious person. Outside of this compound, 饕 only occurs in classical or literary references.
b.f.
(bound form) gluttonousgreedyappears in 饕餮
Examples
- 饕餮。Zhège shénhuà lǐ de tāo tiè shì yì zhǒng tānchī de guàishòu.In this myth, the taotie is a gluttonous monster.
- 饕餮，。Tā kàn rén rú tāo tiè, zǒng xiǎng zhàn biérén piányi.He eyes people like a taotie, always trying to take advantage of others.
- 饕餮。Qīngtóngqì shàng cháng kè yǒu tāo tiè wén.Bronze vessels often feature the taotie pattern.
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