Common Usage & Traps
- 小狗 — puppy; little dog
- 狗叫 — dog bark
- 一只狗 — one dog
- 猫和狗 — cats and dogs
-
狗猫猫狗Chinese conventionally orders this pair as 猫狗 (cats and dogs), not 狗猫.
-
一个狗一只狗Dogs take the measure word 只, not the general 个.
狗
Origin & Mnemonic:
A young dog or puppy. Dog; also used as an insult for a contemptible person. Animal radical 犭 marks a dog; 句 supplies the sound gǒu.
What is the difference between the 犭 radical and the standalone character 犬?
犭 is the left-side compressed form of 犬; both mean dog or animal.
犭 only appears as a component on the left of characters and signals an animal, as in 狗 (dog), 猫 (cat), 猪 (pig). 犬 is the full standalone character for 'dog' and shows up in formal or written words. Treat 犭 as a shape variant, not a separate meaning.
| Dimension | 犭 (radical) | 犬 (standalone) |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Left-side component only | Independent character |
| Meaning | Animal (often dog) | Dog |
| Examples | 狗, 猫, 猪 | 犬 |
Which measure word should I use for 'dog' in Chinese?
Use 只 for dogs; 条 is for long things like fish and snakes, not dogs.
Learners often hear 条 and assume it covers dogs because it covers fish and snakes. In everyday Mandarin, 一只狗 is the natural choice. 条 with 狗 sounds off to most native speakers.
| Dimension | 只 (zhī) | 条 (tiáo) |
|---|---|---|
| With 狗 | Natural: 一只狗 | Unnatural for dogs |
| Typical nouns | Dogs, cats, birds, chickens | Fish, snakes, ropes, pants |
| Register | Everyday spoken | Shape-based, not for dogs |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
-
我买了鸡蛋、面包、牛奶，还有一些水果，这些都是你和我的吃的和喝的东西，还有给我们的小猫和 小狗 吃的东西。
This playful HSK 1 poem twists words you already know and asks how an hour can be small. Read it aloud and laugh; a fun way to practice Chinese.
-
小猫小的猫， 小狗 小的 狗 ，小学不很小，小时怎么小？
This playful poem helps you count and practice vocabulary about clothes, students, and pets. Enjoy the rhythm while learning new words.
-
卖了六只 小狗 ，四百零九元钱。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!