狗 (gǒu) - Dog & canine

狗Tone 3

gǒu ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 犭

枫惠

狗 · gǒu

Dog;

canine;

used metaphorically to describe something despicable or contemptible.

Dogcanineused metaphorically to describe something despicable or contemptible.

Usage highlights

Pet dogPolice dogStray dogHot dogDog foodDog days of summer

Synonyms

  • 犬— Canine (more formal term for dog)
  • 狗狗— Doggy (affectionate term)

Antonyms

  • 猫— Cat (common household pet contrast)
  • 狼— Wolf (wild canine contrast)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • My family has a pet dog (狗).
  • That's a police dog (警犬).
  • He's as loyal as a dog (像狗一样忠诚).
  • Street dogs often search for food (流浪狗).

Collocations

  • Pet dog(宠物狗)
  • Police dog(警犬)
  • Stray dog(流浪狗)
  • Hot dog(热狗)
  • Dog food(狗粮)
  • Dog days of summer(三伏天)

Idioms

  • A dog's tail sticking up(狗尾续貂)
  • A dog's head and military adviser(狗头军师)
  • A dog bites Lu Dongbin(狗咬吕洞宾)
  • A dog can't spit out ivory(狗嘴里吐不出象牙)
  • Beating a dog in the water(落水狗)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, dogs are traditionally seen as loyal companions and guardians.
  • The dog is the 11th animal in the Chinese zodiac, representing loyalty and honesty.
  • While often used positively, '狗' can carry negative connotations in certain contexts, implying servility or contempt.

FAQ