====== sèláng: 色狼 - Pervert, Lecher, Wolf ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** selang, 色狼, se lang meaning, what does selang mean, Chinese pervert, Chinese lecher, Chinese wolf, sexual harassment in China, groping in Chinese,咸猪手, 流氓, 变态 * **Summary:** The Chinese word **色狼 (sèláng)**, literally translating to "color wolf," is a strong and common term for a male pervert, lecher, or sexual predator. It vividly describes a man who harasses women, often through unwanted physical contact like groping (an act called `咸猪手 xiánzhūshǒu`) or leering, especially in public spaces like subways. Understanding `色狼` is crucial for navigating discussions about public safety and social issues in modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** sèláng * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A * **Concise Definition:** A man who behaves in a lecherous, predatory, or sexually aggressive way towards women, particularly in public. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of `色狼` not just as a "pervert" in a general sense, but as a "sexual predator." The word combines the idea of lust (`色`) with the predatory nature of a wolf (`狼`). It’s an active term, describing someone who acts on their inappropriate desires, making others feel unsafe. It's the word you would shout to draw attention to someone groping you on a crowded bus. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **色 (sè):** While its most basic meaning is "color," `色` also carries a strong, distinct meaning of "lust," "sex," or "lewdness." You'll see it in words like `好色 (hàosè)`, meaning "lecherous," and `女色 (nǚsè)`, referring to female beauty as an object of carnal desire. * **狼 (láng):** This character simply means "wolf." It carries all the associated imagery of being a predator—cunning, aggressive, and dangerous. * The two characters combine to create a powerful and visceral image: a "lust wolf" or "sex wolf," a predator who hunts for opportunities to satisfy his lecherous desires. The meaning is not subtle. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **A Public Menace:** The concept of the `色狼` is a significant topic in modern Chinese urban life. News reports, social media posts, and public service announcements frequently warn people (especially women) to be wary of `色狼` on crowded public transportation. The term is central to the public conversation about sexual harassment (`性骚扰 xìngsāorǎo`). * **Comparison to "Pervert":** In Western culture, the word "pervert" can be quite broad. It might describe someone with a non-mainstream but private fetish, or it could be used as a general insult. A `色狼`, however, is almost exclusively used to describe a man whose actions are **external and predatory**. It's not about what someone thinks; it's about what they *do* to others in a public or semi-public space. The focus is on the act of harassment and the violation of personal boundaries. A `色狼` is a public threat, whereas a "pervert" might just be considered weird or deviant. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Direct Accusation:** This is its most potent use. A person, typically a woman, might shout "**抓色狼! (Zhuā sèláng!)**" which means "Catch the pervert!" to alert others and shame the perpetrator. It is a call for immediate help and social intervention. * **Warning:** People use it to warn friends. For example, "Be careful of that guy, he looks like a `色狼`." * **Media and News:** Newspapers and online media use `色狼` in headlines to describe perpetrators of public indecency or sexual assault, e.g., "Subway `色狼` Caught on Camera." * **Connotation and Formality:** The term is highly informal and carries an extremely negative connotation. It is a serious accusation. You would never use it lightly or as a joke among friends, as it's equivalent to accusing someone of being a sexual predator. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * "快来人啊!这里有**色狼**!" * Pinyin: "Kuài lái rén a! Zhèlǐ yǒu **sèláng**!" * English: "Someone help! There's a pervert here!" * Analysis: This is a classic cry for help in a public space. The urgency and severity of the term are clear. It is meant to draw immediate attention and assistance. * **Example 2:** * 地铁上人那么多,女孩子要小心**色狼**。 * Pinyin: Dìtiě shàng rén nàme duō, nǚháizi yào xiǎoxīn **sèláng**. * English: There are so many people on the subway, girls need to be careful of perverts. * Analysis: This sentence is a common piece of advice or a general warning. It highlights the specific context (crowded public transport) where `色狼` are perceived to be a problem. * **Example 3:** * 那个男人一直盯着你看,真像个**色狼**。 * Pinyin: Nàge nánrén yīzhí dīngzhe nǐ kàn, zhēn xiàng ge **sèláng**. * English: That man keeps staring at you, he's just like a pervert. * Analysis: Here, `色狼` is used to describe behavior (leering) that is predatory, even without physical contact. The phrase `真像个 (zhēn xiàng ge)` means "really looks like a..." * **Example 4:** * 警方根据监控录像,很快就抓住了那个公交车**色狼**。 * Pinyin: Jǐngfāng gēnjù jiānkòng lùxiàng, hěn kuài jiù zhuāzhùle nàge gōngjiāochē **sèláng**. * English: The police quickly caught the bus pervert based on the security camera footage. * Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in a formal, news-reporting context. It functions as a label for a specific type of criminal. * **Example 5:** * 他在网上对女同事说下流话,被大家当成了**色狼**。 * Pinyin: Tā zài wǎngshàng duì nǚ tóngshì shuō xiàliú huà, bèi dàjiā dàngchéngle **sèláng**. * English: He said indecent things to his female colleague online and was labeled a pervert by everyone. * Analysis: This shows that the actions of a `色狼` aren't limited to the physical world. Online harassment can also earn someone this label. * **Example 6:** * 你不要开这种玩笑,不然别人会以为你是个**色狼**。 * Pinyin: Nǐ búyào kāi zhè zhǒng wánxiào, bùrán biérén huì yǐwéi nǐ shì ge **sèláng**. * English: Don't make that kind of joke, otherwise people will think you're a pervert. * Analysis: This sentence serves as a warning about social perception. It underscores that even inappropriate jokes can lead to being labeled with this very serious term. * **Example 7:** * 电影里的那个反派就是一个十足的**色狼**。 * Pinyin: Diànyǐng lǐ de nàge fǎnpài jiùshì yīgè shízú de **sèláng**. * English: The villain in the movie is a complete pervert. * Analysis: `十足的 (shízú de)` means "out-and-out" or "100%," used here to emphasize the character's lecherous nature. This is a common way to describe a fictional character. * **Example 8:** * 她勇敢地反抗了那个**色狼**,并报了警。 * Pinyin: Tā yǒnggǎn de fǎnkàngle nàge **sèláng**, bìng bào le jǐng. * English: She bravely resisted the pervert and called the police. * Analysis: This sentence frames the victim as heroic and the `色狼` as the clear aggressor who should be reported to the authorities. * **Example 9:** * 夏天穿得少,更容易成为**色狼**的目标。 * Pinyin: Xiàtiān chuān de shǎo, gèng róngyì chéngwéi **sèláng** de mùbiāo. * English: Wearing less in the summer makes it easier to become a target for perverts. * Analysis: This reflects a common, though sometimes controversial, societal belief in China about preventing harassment. It clearly shows `色狼` as a predator and others as potential "targets" (`目标`). * **Example 10:** * 别以为没人看见,你这个**色狼**! * Pinyin: Bié yǐwéi méi rén kànjiàn, nǐ zhège **sèláng**! * English: Don't think no one saw you, you pervert! * Analysis: A direct, confrontational accusation. Using the measure word `这个 (zhège)` makes the insult very personal and direct. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **False Friend: "Pervert"**: The biggest mistake is to think `色狼` is a perfect one-to-one translation of the English word "pervert." An English speaker might call someone a "pervert" for having a strange but private collection or interest. A `色狼` is not about private interests; it is defined by their **outward, aggressive, and unwanted actions** toward others, usually women. * **Don't Use It Lightly:** Never call someone a `色狼` as a joke. It is not a playful term for a friend who is a flirt. It is a serious accusation of predatory sexual behavior and is deeply insulting. Using it incorrectly can cause a huge social fallout. * **Gender Specificity:** The term `色狼` is almost exclusively used for men. While a lecherous woman might be called a `色女 (sènǚ)`, this term is far less common and doesn't carry the same weight or connotation of physical threat as `色狼`. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[咸猪手]] (xiánzhūshǒu) - Literally "salty pig hand." This is the *act* of groping, the primary action of a `色狼`. * [[流氓]] (liúmáng) - Hooligan, rogue, gangster. This is a broader term for a scoundrel or bad person. A `色狼` can be a type of `流氓`, but a `流氓` might just be a thug without the specific sexual-predator connotation. * [[变态]] (biàntài) - Abnormal; perverted. This term is actually closer to the broad English "pervert." It can describe someone with strange psychology, a weird fetish, or disturbing behavior in general. A `色狼` is a type of `变态`, but not all `变态` are `色狼`. * [[好色]] (hàosè) - Lecherous, lustful (adjective). This describes the attribute of being a `色狼`. You can say someone is `很好色 (hěn hàosè)`. * [[非礼]] (fēilǐ) - To molest, to assault indecently. This is a more formal, almost legalistic verb for what a `色狼` does. It literally means "to act against propriety/rites." * [[性骚扰]] (xìngsāorǎo) - Sexual harassment. This is the modern, formal, and legal term for the crime that a `色狼` commits. You would see this term in legal documents and official news reports. * [[痴汉]] (chīhàn) - A direct loanword from Japanese (chikan), meaning groper. It's used almost interchangeably with `色狼`, especially in contexts related to public transport, and is very common in pop culture (anime, manga).