狗

• Pinyin: gǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 狗 = 犭(dog radical) + 句 (gōu, phonetic component)

Meaning

Dog. The common word for the domestic animal.

Unlike in many Western cultures, 狗 in Chinese idioms often has negative connotations (e.g., 狗腿子 = lackey). However, as pets become more popular in modern China, attitudes are shifting, especially among younger people.

Examples

1. 他家养了一只小狗。 His family has a little dog.
2. 我很喜欢狗，觉得狗很可爱。 I really like dogs — I think they are very cute.
3. 那只狗在公园里跑来跑去。 That dog was running around in the park.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, pets, daily life

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你喜欢狗还是猫？(Do you prefer dogs or cats?)
• 这只狗真聪明。(This dog is really smart.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'狗'来称呼人 — calling someone 狗 is very insulting in Chinese. Compounds like 走狗 (running dog) and 狗腿子 (lackey) are strong insults.

Origin & History

An ancient Chinese character. The radical 犭(dog radical) appears in many animal-related characters. 狗 combines 犭with 句 (gōu, phonetic component).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal