Even when I enlarge 劇 a few point sizes, it’s difficult to see clearly. The kanji only has 15 strokes, far fewer than other crazy characters, but somehow the lines cluster thickly in this case. Here’s the kanji under a microscope:
You can take it apart as follows:
虍 means “tiger.”
豕 means “pig.”
刂 means “sword” or “to cut.”
In A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters, Kenneth Henshall says experts generally see this character as meaning “attack with a sword in the manner of a tiger attacking a pig, i.e., fiercely….”
Although the tiger in question undoubtedly uses fangs, it would certainly be interesting to see a tiger challenge a pig to a duel. Perhaps that would level the playing field a bit.
