Difference between 獣｛しし｝ and 野獣｛やじゅう｝ (beast)


I learnt the words 獣{しし} and 野獣{やじゅう} and their definitions look too similar.
Can someone explain me the difference between them?

While searching more for beast words, I also found that 獣 could also be spelt
けもの or けだもの (also written in katakana ケダモノ).




獣 is always read **けもの** or **けだもの** in modern Japanese.

> [けもの](http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%91%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE)

Simply refers to any kind of beast or animal.

> [けだもの](http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%91%E3%81%A0%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE)

It's only used for emotionally deprived, unscrupulous, monstrous individuals,
like a murderer, rapist or barbarian. It always refers to the actual
perpetrator, so for example, you wouldn't call Adolf Hitler a けだもの. Think of
[Chucky from Child's
Play](https://www.google.com/search?q=chucky&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=568&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3wBiVLyGB8HamAXp14LACA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=2#tbm=isch&q=child%27s+play+chucky).

>
> [野獣{やじゅう}](http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%82%84%E3%81%98%E3%82%85%E3%81%86)

Also means beast or brute, but it doesn't carry any negative connotation like
けだもの.

> しし is not used in modern Japanese as 獣, but 獅子{しし} is an outdated form of
> ライオン.




獣 is always read **けもの** or **けだもの** in modern Japanese.

> [けもの](http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%91%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE)

Simply refers to any kind of beast or animal.

> [けだもの](http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%91%E3%81%A0%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE)

It's only used for emotionally deprived, unscrupulous, monstrous individuals,
like a murderer, rapist or barbarian. It always refers to the actual
perpetrator, so for example, you wouldn't call Adolf Hitler a けだもの. Think of
[Chucky from Child's
Play](https://www.google.com/search?q=chucky&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=568&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3wBiVLyGB8HamAXp14LACA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=2#tbm=isch&q=child%27s+play+chucky).

>
> [野獣{やじゅう}](http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%82%84%E3%81%98%E3%82%85%E3%81%86)

Also means beast or brute, but it doesn't carry any negative connotation like
けだもの.

> しし is not used in modern Japanese as 獣, but 獅子{しし} is an outdated form of
> ライオン.

