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March 24, 2026
狗gǒu(gou3)
The character '狗' (gǒu) means 'dog' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to domesticated dogs, which are popular pets in many households. In addition, the term can be used in various idiomatic expressions and phrases related to loyalty and companionship.
Strokes8Radical犭Frequency#299DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, dogs are often associated with loyalty and protection. The Year of the Dog in the Chinese zodiac symbolizes fidelity and vigilance, reflecting the traditional view of dogs as guardians of the home.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dog barking happily while wagging its tail. The character '狗' looks like a dog with its ears perked up. The left side resembles the radical for 'dog', and the right side might remind you of a playful dog's tail. Think of 'gǒu' as the sound a dog makes: 'gaw-gaw'!
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AI Study Notes for 狗
Quick Contrast
猫 (māo) vs. 狗 (gǒu): Use '狗' when referring specifically to dogs, while '猫' refers to cats.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse '狗' (gǒu) with similar-sounding words. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but when referring to dogs in a more affectionate manner, you may hear '小狗' (xiǎo gǒu), meaning 'puppy'. The measure word for dogs is '只' (zhī), so you would say '一只狗' (yī zhī gǒu) for 'one dog'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, '狗' is foundational for beginners. Focus on pronunciation and tone, as this word is often used in everyday conversations. It connects with other animal vocabulary like '猫' (māo, cat) and '鸟' (niǎo, bird) to expand your animal vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the correct measure word when counting dogs. For example, saying '三狗' (sān gǒu) is incorrect; it should be '三只狗' (sān zhī gǒu) meaning 'three dogs'. Additionally, some may mispronounce the tone, saying 'gou' instead of 'gǒu', which changes the meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 狗
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Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound.
1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
2The sound half句 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaydog
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 狗? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 狗?
Decomposition of 狗
IDS Structure⿰犭句
狗Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
句gou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 狗?
How to say dog in Chinese
“dog” in Chinese is狗gǒu
The character '狗' (gǒu) means 'dog' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to domesticated dogs, which are popular pets in many households. In addition, the term can be used in various idiomatic expressions and phrases related to loyalty and companionship.
When to use 狗
Be careful not to confuse '狗' (gǒu) with similar-sounding words. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but when referring to dogs in a more affectionate manner, you may hear '小狗' (xiǎo gǒu), meaning 'puppy'. The measure word for dogs is '只' (zhī), so you would say '一只狗' (yī zhī gǒu) for 'one dog'.
狗 or something close to it
猫 (māo) vs. 狗 (gǒu): Use '狗' when referring specifically to dogs, while '猫' refers to cats.
What learners get wrong
Learners often forget to use the correct measure word when counting dogs. For example, saying '三狗' (sān gǒu) is incorrect; it should be '三只狗' (sān zhī gǒu) meaning 'three dogs'. Additionally, some may mispronounce the tone, saying 'gou' instead of 'gǒu', which changes the meaning.
Write 狗
狗
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Practice writing 狗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 狗
狗 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
