Anyone has any idea why 狼狽 means "confusion/panic/consternation" when both kanjis are ways of saying "wolf"?


Basically, I'm asking if anyone knows of a possible etymological reason. Maybe
it has to do with the ideogram itself, maybe it's a saying, but I'm not
finding satisfying answers online.

Apparently, in Chinese it can also mean "in an awkward or difficult position",
and according to [wikitionary entry for the chinese etymology of the
word](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%8B%BC%E7%8B%BD#Etymology):

> An Old Chinese ideophone of the phonetic shape /raːd(s) paːd(s) ~ raːŋ
> paːd(s)/ (ZS), initially used to describe a limping or stumbling gait. Folk
> etymology (as used by Tang-Dynasty Duan Chengshi) states that 狽／狈 (bèi) was
> a wolf-like animal in Chinese mythology, which had very short forelegs and
> long hind legs, and needed to mount a wolf in order to walk, so the two
> animals would always hunt together. This eventually led to the meaning of
> “to conspire”.

I can see how this would lead to the meaning of "being in an awkard or
difficult position". Further, the ideograms being two different kind of wolf
kanji also make sense with this etymology, given that one wolf rides the
other, and one is a legendary kind of wolf.

But then again, that's the Chinese etymology/meaning, and I'm more interested
in the Japanese one. Apparently, 狼狽する is also in the phrase 周章狼狽する, which also
means "consternation, falling into panic". And according to [this answer on
Japanese Yahoo
Answers](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q109883315),
it has to do with the codependence of both of the wolves, and it later
changed, but there's no source on that.




The explanation from 新明解語源辞典 gives weight to the old meaning of codependence
of both the wolves : both 狼 and 狽 designate legendary wild creatures. The
first one with long forelegs and short hind legs. The latter with the opposite
features. So 狽 must ride on the back of 狼 for both of them to advance
efficiently. Hence the sense of codependence. But the insecurity is palpable
too.

Also, interestingly, the same dictionary mentions that this interpretation
dates from as far back as 唐代, Tang period (618-907). And that, in contrast to
that classical interpretation, the _onomatopoeia_ view has been gaining weight
recently among scholars.

I personally find the "pair of legendary animals" interpretation much more
satisfying and easy to remember, but I have no clue which, if any, is correct.




The explanation from 新明解語源辞典 gives weight to the old meaning of codependence
of both the wolves : both 狼 and 狽 designate legendary wild creatures. The
first one with long forelegs and short hind legs. The latter with the opposite
features. So 狽 must ride on the back of 狼 for both of them to advance
efficiently. Hence the sense of codependence. But the insecurity is palpable
too.

Also, interestingly, the same dictionary mentions that this interpretation
dates from as far back as 唐代, Tang period (618-907). And that, in contrast to
that classical interpretation, the _onomatopoeia_ view has been gaining weight
recently among scholars.

I personally find the "pair of legendary animals" interpretation much more
satisfying and easy to remember, but I have no clue which, if any, is correct.

