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犴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
犴ànwild dog; jail, lock-upx, 6 strokes, radical 犭
àn(an4) T4
  1. 1wild dog; jail, lock-up
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March 24, 2026

犴àn(an4)

The character 犴 (àn) refers to a wild dog, particularly in a more general sense of a dog that is untamed. It also has connotations related to imprisonment or confinement, often used metaphorically to describe a state of being locked up or jailed. This dual meaning can be encountered in various contexts, from literature to discussions about law and order.

Strokes6Radical犭
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, wild dogs are often symbolic of freedom and the untamed spirit, contrasting sharply with the societal norms of confinement and control. This duality reflects traditional Chinese views on law and morality, making the character relevant in discussions about justice.

Memory Tip

Visualize a wild dog (犭, the radical for dog) howling at the moon while being locked in a cage (暗, pronounced 'àn', means dark or hidden). Imagine the wild dog is named An, and it always seems to find itself in trouble, leading to its imprisonment. This combination of imagery will help you remember both the character and its pronunciation.

Meanings of 犴

àn(an4)
1wild dog; jail, lock-up
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 犴

犴Simplified
6Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 犴

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Podcast: 犴

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AI Study Notes for 犴

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 犴 with similar characters related to dogs or imprisonment. It’s essential to remember that 犴 specifically denotes a wild dog or a state of being jailed, rather than just any dog or prison. Use this character in discussions about wildlife or the justice system to maintain appropriate register.

HSK Study Tips

While 犴 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to other characters related to animals and confinement, such as 狗 (gǒu, dog) and 监狱 (jiānyù, prison). Focus on understanding the context in which this character is used, especially in literature or legal texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 犴 interchangeably with other dog-related terms, such as 狗 (gǒu). For example, saying '我有一只犴' (wǒ yǒu yī zhī àn) to mean 'I have a dog' is incorrect; it should be '我有一只狗' (wǒ yǒu yī zhī gǒu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 犴

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Etymology of 犴

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

dog

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 犴

  1. 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half干 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydog
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 犴? 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 犴?

Decomposition of 犴

IDS Structure⿰犭干
犴Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
干gan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 犴?

How to say wild dog; jail, lock-up in Chinese

“wild dog; jail, lock-up” in Chinese is犴àn

The character 犴 (àn) refers to a wild dog, particularly in a more general sense of a dog that is untamed. It also has connotations related to imprisonment or confinement, often used metaphorically to describe a state of being locked up or jailed. This dual meaning can be encountered in various contexts, from literature to discussions about law and order.

When to use 犴

Learners often confuse 犴 with similar characters related to dogs or imprisonment. It’s essential to remember that 犴 specifically denotes a wild dog or a state of being jailed, rather than just any dog or prison. Use this character in discussions about wildlife or the justice system to maintain appropriate register.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 犴 interchangeably with other dog-related terms, such as 狗 (gǒu). For example, saying '我有一只犴' (wǒ yǒu yī zhī àn) to mean 'I have a dog' is incorrect; it should be '我有一只狗' (wǒ yǒu yī zhī gǒu).

Write 犴

犴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 犴

Words Containing This Character1
犴ànjail
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 犴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 犴

In modern Chinese, 犴 primarily refers to a wild dog and also carries connotations of being imprisoned.

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