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猃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
猃xiǎnlong-snouted dogg, 10 strokes, radical 犭
猃xiǎna kind of dog with a long snoutunknown, 10 strokes, radical 犭
xiǎn(xian3) T3
  1. 1long-snouted dog
  2. 2a kind of dog with a long snout
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

猃(獫)xiǎn(xian3)

猃 (xiǎn) refers to a mythical long-snouted dog mentioned in ancient Chinese texts. It is often associated with loyalty and protection, embodying characteristics of a guardian animal in folklore and literature, though its exact cultural significance can vary.

Strokes10Radical犭
Cultural Note

In ancient Chinese culture, the 猃 was often depicted in literature as a protective creature, symbolizing loyalty and vigilance, much like the role of certain dogs in Western mythology.

Memory Tip

Imagine a long-snouted dog (猃) that fiercely guards its territory. The character 猃 consists of the radical '犭' (dog) on the left, reminding you that it relates to dogs, while '倩' evokes the sound 'xiǎn', like a hound's bark echoing through the forest.

Meanings of 猃

xiǎn(xian3)
1long-snouted dog
2a kind of dog with a long snout
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 猃

猃Simplified
獫Traditional
10Strokes
犭Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 猃

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Podcast: 猃

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AI Study Notes for 猃

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in modern contexts, primarily found in literary or historical texts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters, especially in informal conversation where its specificity may lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

猃 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, so it’s more suitable for advanced learners interested in classical literature. Focus on understanding its literary context and how it appears in ancient texts to enhance your reading skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 猃 with other dog-related characters, such as 狗 (gǒu). For example, using 猃 in a casual context to refer to any dog would be incorrect; instead, use 狗 for everyday conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猃

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Etymology of 猃

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

dog

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 猃

  1. 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half佥 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 猃? 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 猃?

Decomposition of 猃

IDS Structure⿰犭佥
猃Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
佥qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 猃?

How to say long-snouted dog in Chinese

“long-snouted dog” in Chinese is猃xiǎn

猃 (xiǎn) refers to a mythical long-snouted dog mentioned in ancient Chinese texts. It is often associated with loyalty and protection, embodying characteristics of a guardian animal in folklore and literature, though its exact cultural significance can vary.

When to use 猃

This character is rarely used in modern contexts, primarily found in literary or historical texts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters, especially in informal conversation where its specificity may lead to confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 猃 with other dog-related characters, such as 狗 (gǒu). For example, using 猃 in a casual context to refer to any dog would be incorrect; instead, use 狗 for everyday conversation.

Write 猃

猃

Practice writing 猃 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 猃

Words Containing This Character1
猃xiǎnZhou Dynasty term for a northern nomadic tribe later called the Xiongnu 匈奴[Xiōng​nú] in the Qin and Han Dynasties獫
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 猃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 猃

The 猃 is a mythical dog that represents loyalty and protection, often found in ancient stories as a guardian figure.

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