Dog in Chinese
The Chinese word for "dog" is 狗 (gǒu). 狗 is the everyday word for dog. Both 一只狗 and 一条狗 are standard; 只 is more common today, especially for small dogs and pets.
Chinese words for dog
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 狗 | gǒu | dog | The default answer. |
| 小狗 | xiǎo gǒu | puppy, little dog | A puppy or a small dog, or any dog spoken of fondly. |
| 狗狗 | gǒu gou | doggy | Affectionate, childlike word for a dog, common among pet owners. |
| 宠物狗 | chǒng wù gǒu | pet dog | A dog kept as a pet, as opposed to a working or stray dog. |
| 犬 | quǎn | dog (formal) | Written and formal word, used in compounds like 警犬 police dog and 导盲犬 guide dog. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我养了一只狗。 | wǒ yǎng le yī zhī gǒu. | I have a dog. |
| 那条狗很大。 | nà tiáo gǒu hěn dà. | That dog is very big. |
| 小狗在门口等我。 | xiǎo gǒu zài mén kǒu děng wǒ. | The puppy waits for me at the door. |
| 这是一只导盲犬。 | zhè shì yī zhī dǎo máng quǎn. | This is a guide dog. |
The characters in 狗
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 狗 | gǒu | dog; 犭 on the left marks an animal |
Common mistakes
- Calling a person 狗 is an insult. The slang 单身狗 'single dog' for someone without a partner is a joke people use about themselves.
- Measure words: 一只狗 or 一条狗, never 一个狗.
- In 小狗 both syllables are third tone, so in speech the first rises: written xiǎo gǒu, said xiáo gǒu.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say dog in Chinese?
狗 (gǒu). Other ways: 小狗 (xiǎo gǒu); 狗狗 (gǒu gou); 宠物狗 (chǒng wù gǒu).
Is it 一只狗 or 一条狗?
Both are correct. 条 is the traditional measure word for dogs; 只 is more common in everyday speech today, especially for small dogs and pets.
When is the next Year of the Dog?
2018 was a dog year, and the zodiac repeats every twelve years, so the next one is 2030.
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