吠える

• Reading: ほえる
• Romaji: hoeru
• Kanji breakdown: 吠 (hai/ho) — bark, howl
• Pronunciation: /ho.e.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To bark; to howl; to roar. The sound made by dogs, wolves, and other animals.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb. Primarily used for dogs barking (犬が吠える) but also for wolves howling and lions roaring. Figuratively used for people shouting aggressively or making empty threats: 弱い犬ほどよく吠える (the weaker the dog, the more it barks — all bark and no bite).

Examples

1. 隣の犬が毎晩吠えてうるさい。 The neighbor's dog barks every night and it's annoying.
2. 知らない人が来ると犬が吠え始める。 The dog starts barking whenever a stranger comes by.
3. 動物園でライオンが大きな声で吠えていた。 A lion was roaring loudly at the zoo.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, daily life, figurative speech

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 吠 combines 口 (mouth) and 犬 (dog), literally depicting a dog opening its mouth — barking.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal