Meanings of 犭
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About 犭
Podcast: 犭
Podcast: 犭
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AI Study Notes for 犭
This character is primarily used as a radical rather than standing alone in everyday conversation. It’s important to remember that its pronunciation can change when used in different characters, so focus on its component role rather than standalone usage. Avoid confusing it with the standalone word for dog, which is 狗 (gǒu).
Although 犭 is not an HSK level word by itself, it is useful for recognizing related vocabulary in HSK levels 2 and 3 that involve animals. Students should focus on memorizing characters that include this radical to enhance their understanding of related terms.
Learners often confuse 犭 with other animal radicals. For example, they may use 犭 when they mean to refer to a dog directly, instead of using 狗 (gǒu). Always use the full word 狗 for clarity.
Pronunciation of 犭
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Etymology of 犭
犭 is a component form of 犬.
A dog turned to the side
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 犭
犭 is a component form of 犬.
- 1The giveawayA dog turned to the side
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 犭? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 犭?
How to say dog in Chinese
“dog” in Chinese is犭
The character 犭 (quǎn) is a variant of the character for 'dog' and is often used as a radical in other characters related to animals, specifically dogs or canines. It is commonly seen in characters like 狼 (láng, wolf) and 猫 (māo, cat), where it indicates a relationship to animals or their behaviors.
When to use 犭
This character is primarily used as a radical rather than standing alone in everyday conversation. It’s important to remember that its pronunciation can change when used in different characters, so focus on its component role rather than standalone usage. Avoid confusing it with the standalone word for dog, which is 狗 (gǒu).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 犭 with other animal radicals. For example, they may use 犭 when they mean to refer to a dog directly, instead of using 狗 (gǒu). Always use the full word 狗 for clarity.
Write 犭
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Practice writing 犭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 犭
Compound Meaning
What does 犭 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 犭
犭 is a radical used in other characters related to dogs, while 狗 (gǒu) is the actual word for 'dog'.
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