1
a hyena
hyena 是可数名词，单数前面要用 a/an。
We saw a hyena drinking at the waterhole.
我们看见一只鬣狗在水坑边喝水。
鬣狗
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
鬣狗
a doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on carrion
We saw a hyena drinking at the waterhole.
我们看见一只鬣狗在水坑边喝水。
鬣狗科的中型至大型猫形食肉动物,原产于非洲和亚洲,以兴奋时发出的类似笑声的声音著称。
Any of the medium-sized to large feliform carnivores of the family Hyaenidae, native to Africa and Asia and noted for the sound similar to laughter which they can make if excited.
非洲和南亚的夜行性犬科哺乳动物,主要以腐肉为食
doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on carrion
与刚丧偶的妇女和初潮少女进行仪式性性行为的男子。
A man that performs ritualized sex acts with recently widowed women and menarchal girls.
The hyena waited near the watering hole for a chance to scavenge.
鬣狗在水坑附近等待机会觅食。
We saw a pack of hyenas on the safari.
我们在野生动物园看到一群鬣狗。
A hyena's laugh can be heard far away at night.
鬣狗的笑声在夜晚很远都能听到。
hyena 是可数名词，单数前面要用 a/an。
We saw a hyena drinking at the waterhole.
我们看见一只鬣狗在水坑边喝水。
表示“一群鬣狗”用 pack；作主语时谓语可用单数或复数。
A pack of hyenas surrounded the lion.
一群鬣狗围住了那头狮子。
hyena 可喻指残酷或贪婪的人，多含贬义。
That landlord is a hyena; he raises the rent every month.
那个房东是个贪婪的人，他每月都涨房租。
Not this
Hyena is a dangerous animal.
Use this
A hyena is a dangerous animal.
汉语“鬣狗是危险的动物”可以说无冠词，但英语中可数名词单数作主语时必须带限定词；这里表示“任何一只鬣狗”，所以要用 a hyena。
Not this
There are many hyena in the savanna.
Use this
There are many hyenas in the savanna.
汉语名词没有复数形式，但英语中 many 后面要用可数名词复数；hyena 的复数形式是 hyenas，必须加 -s。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
斑鬣狗
The spotted hyena is known for its powerful jaws.
斑鬣狗以强大的下颚而闻名。
条纹鬣狗
The striped hyena is mostly a scavenger.
条纹鬣狗主要是食腐动物。
笑鬣狗
The laughing hyena's call sounds almost human.
笑鬣狗的叫声听起来几乎像人。
一群鬣狗
A pack of hyenas ran across the savanna.
一群鬣狗跑过稀树草原。
鬣狗幼崽
The hyena cubs stayed close to their mother.
鬣狗幼崽们紧跟在母亲身边。
像鬣狗一样大笑（形容笑声尖厉或难以控制）
When she heard the joke, she laughed like a hyena for five minutes.
听到那个笑话后，她像鬣狗一样大笑了五分钟。
Use hyena naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
读作“嗨伊娜”，想象草原上鬣狗朝你“嗨”一声：它像狗，却以腐肉为食。
语域：neutral 常见场景：动物纪录片、自然科普文章、日常谈论野生动物 这里取本义，指鬣狗（一种非洲/亚洲的肉食性哺乳动物）。通常用于动物、自然类话题，属于中性词，正式和口语中都可用；比喻义较少见于这类语境。
与 hyena 押韵的词有 arena、subpoena、galena、verbena，它们都以重读的 /iːnə/ 音结尾。注意 hygiene 看起来相似（以 hy- 开头），但发音完全不同：/ˈhaɪdʒiːn/。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.