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貉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
貉héraccoon dogng, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉héraccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉héold term for northern peoplesunknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉héraccoon of North China, Korea and Japan (Japanese: tanuki)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉hésilentunknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉héalso pr. [hao2]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉mòraccoon dogng, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉mòraccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉mòold term for northern peoplesunknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉mòraccoon of North China, Korea and Japan (Japanese: tanuki)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉mòsilentunknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉mòalso pr. [hao2]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉háoraccoon dogng, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉háoraccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉háoold term for northern peoplesunknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉háoraccoon of North China, Korea and Japan (Japanese: tanuki)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉háosilentunknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
貉háoalso pr. [hao2]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 豸, rank #32841, Very Hard
háo(hao2)
primary
 T2
  1. 1raccoon dog
  2. 2raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

貉háo(hao2)

The character 貉 (háo) refers to the raccoon dog, a unique mammal native to East Asia, particularly known for its distinctive appearance and behavior. It can also denote an old term for northern peoples and is sometimes associated with the silent nature of these animals. In contemporary usage, it is chiefly used in zoological contexts and discussions about wildlife.

Strokes13Radical豸Frequency#32841DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese folklore, the raccoon dog (or tanuki) is often depicted as a trickster figure, embodying playful mischief, similar to its representation in Japanese culture. This reflects the animal's role in various stories and its significance in regional wildlife.

Memory Tip

Imagine a raccoon dog wearing a hat (háo sounds like 'hat') as it stealthily moves in silence through the woods. The character 貉 features the radical for 'goods' (貝), suggesting its association with something valuable or interesting, while 'hu' connects to its sound.

Meanings of 貉

háo(hao2)
primary
1raccoon dog
2raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 貉

貉Simplified
13Strokes
豸Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 貉

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Podcast: 貉

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AI Study Notes for 貉

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse this character with similar-sounding words, particularly with other animals. It is used in more formal or scientific contexts rather than casual conversation. Be cautious with the tones; háo (1st tone) emphasizes the 'silent' aspect, while the alternate pronunciation hǎo (3rd tone) may lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 貉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of animal names in Mandarin. Focus on the character's radicals and components, as they can help you decipher other related terms about wildlife.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly pronounce 貉 as 'hao2' (2nd tone), which changes its meaning. The correct pronunciation is 'háo' (1st tone) when referring to the raccoon dog.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 貉

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Etymology of 貉

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 豸 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

beast

Semantic (meaning)豸
+
Phonetic (sound)各
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 貉

Phonosemantic compound. 豸 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half豸 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half各 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybeast
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 貉? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 貉?

Decomposition of 貉

IDS Structure⿰豸各
貉Full Character
=
豸zhi4
left
各ge4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 貉?

How to say raccoon dog in Chinese

“raccoon dog” in Chinese is貉hé

The character 貉 (háo) refers to the raccoon dog, a unique mammal native to East Asia, particularly known for its distinctive appearance and behavior. It can also denote an old term for northern peoples and is sometimes associated with the silent nature of these animals. In contemporary usage, it is chiefly used in zoological contexts and discussions about wildlife.

When to use 貉

Learners often confuse this character with similar-sounding words, particularly with other animals. It is used in more formal or scientific contexts rather than casual conversation. Be cautious with the tones; háo (1st tone) emphasizes the 'silent' aspect, while the alternate pronunciation hǎo (3rd tone) may lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly pronounce 貉 as 'hao2' (2nd tone), which changes its meaning. The correct pronunciation is 'háo' (1st tone) when referring to the raccoon dog.

Write 貉

貉

Practice writing 貉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 貉

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, raccoon dogs are less known and often confused with regular raccoons, whereas in East Asia, they have distinct cultural representations and folklore surrounding them.

Word Family of 貉

Words Containing This Character2
貉háoalso pr. [háo]
一丘之貉jackals of the same tribe (idiom); fig. They are all just as bad as each other.
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 貉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 貉

貉 specifically refers to the raccoon dog, while other characters represent different animals, each with its unique meaning and context.

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Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.