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肰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
肰rándog meatx, 8 strokes, radical ⺼
肰ránold variant of 然[ran2]unknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺼
rán(ran2) T2
  1. 1dog meat
  2. 2old variant of 然[ran2]
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March 24, 2026

肰rán(ran2)

The character 肰 (rán) primarily refers to dog meat, a delicacy in certain regions of China. It also serves as an archaic variant of the character 然, which means 'to be' or 'so'. Usage is rare and often carries cultural stigma due to differing attitudes toward dogs in various parts of the world.

Strokes8Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In some regions of China, dog meat has historically been consumed, especially during festivals. This practice is controversial and has sparked debates around animal rights and cultural traditions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a dog (狗) on a plate, with the character 肚 (belly) indicating meat. The pronunciation 'rán' can be remembered by associating it with the sound of a dog barking, as it relates to dog meat.

Meanings of 肰

rán(ran2)
1dog meat
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 肰

肰Simplified
8Strokes
⺼Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 肰

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Podcast: 肰

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AI Study Notes for 肰

Usage Notes

While 肰 is not commonly used in contemporary language, it's important to understand it in the context of traditional cuisine discussions or historical texts. Avoid using it in casual conversations, as it can be sensitive or offensive.

HSK Study Tips

Since 肰 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, focus on the more common character 然 (rán) which is vital at HSK Level 3. Understanding 肰 can enhance comprehension of historical or cultural discussions about food.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 肰 with the more commonly used 然, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 肭 (ran) instead of 然 (rán) when meaning 'to be' is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 肰

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Etymology of 肰

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Depicts the meat (⺼) of a dog (犬).

Memory Hint

Dog 犬 meat ⺼

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 肰?

Decomposition of 肰

IDS Structure⿰⺼犬
肰Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
犬quan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 肰?

How to say dog meat in Chinese

“dog meat” in Chinese is肰rán

The character 肰 (rán) primarily refers to dog meat, a delicacy in certain regions of China. It also serves as an archaic variant of the character 然, which means 'to be' or 'so'. Usage is rare and often carries cultural stigma due to differing attitudes toward dogs in various parts of the world.

When to use 肰

While 肰 is not commonly used in contemporary language, it's important to understand it in the context of traditional cuisine discussions or historical texts. Avoid using it in casual conversations, as it can be sensitive or offensive.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 肰 with the more commonly used 然, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 肭 (ran) instead of 然 (rán) when meaning 'to be' is a common error.

Write 肰

肰

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

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Cultural Notes for 肰

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of eating dog meat is often viewed negatively in Western cultures, where dogs are primarily seen as pets rather than food.

Word Family of 肰

Words Containing This Character1
肰rándog meat

Frequently Asked Questions about 肰

No, 肰 is considered archaic and rarely used today.

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