犬

• Reading: いぬ
• Romaji: inu
• Kanji breakdown: 犬 (ken/inu) — dog
• Pronunciation: /i.nɯ/

Meaning

Dog; canine. The most common domestic pet in Japan alongside cats.

A noun referring to dogs. Dogs are extremely popular pets in Japan. The famous story of 忠犬ハチ公 (Chuuken Hachiko) about a loyal dog waiting for his owner is known worldwide. The kanji 犬 also serves as a radical in many animal-related characters.

Examples

1. 私は犬を二匹飼っています。 I have two dogs.
2. 毎朝犬と公園を散歩します。 I walk with my dog in the park every morning.
3. あの犬はとても大きいですね。 That dog is very big, isn't it?

Usage Guide

Context: pets, animals, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 犬 is a pictograph of a dog, showing the animal in profile. It is one of the oldest characters representing a domesticated animal.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal