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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#299DifficultyMedium
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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'!
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.
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.
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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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). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Dogs love splashing in mud and hippos wallow in it.
8
安德鲁过去只要看见狗，无论在哪里，无论什么狗，都会吓得一动不动。
ān dé lǔ guò qù zhī yào kàn jiàn gǒu， ， wú lùn zài nǎ， lǐ ， wú lùn shí， mó gǒu ， dū huì xià dé yī。
Andrew went rigid when he saw a dog, any dog, anywhere.
9
在古代，狗也与治病有关。
zài gǔ dài， ， gǒu yě yǔ zhì bìng yǒu。
Dogs were also associated with healing in the ancient world.
10
你的狗应该有它自己进食和饮水用的碗。
nǐ de gǒu yīng gāi yǒu tā zì jǐ jìn shí hé yǐn shuǐ yòng de wǎn。
Your dog should have his own bowls for food and water.
Cultural Notes for 狗
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 狗
Words Containing This Character20
狗gǒudog
狗屁bullshit
小狗pup
热狗hot dog (loanword)熱狗
走狗hound
狗肉dog meat
狗熊black bear
狗仔队paparazzi狗仔隊
遛狗to walk a dog
猎狗hunting dog獵狗
狼狗wolfdog
狗崽子(coll.) puppy
狗年Year of the Dog (e.g. 2006)
狮子狗Pekingese獅子狗
野狗wild dog
狐朋狗友a pack of rogues (idiom); a gang of scoundrels
哈巴狗pekingese (dog)
狗腿子dog's leg
狼心狗肺cruel and unscrupulous
狗急跳墙to be driven to desperate action狗急跳牆
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Compound Meaning
What does 狗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 狗
'小狗' (xiǎo gǒu) is used to mean 'puppy' or 'little dog', conveying affection.
The measure word for dogs is '只' (zhī), so you would say '一只狗' (yī zhī gǒu) for 'one dog'.
Yes, '狗狗' (gǒu gǒu) is often used affectionately to refer to dogs, and '狗年' (gǒu nián) refers to the Year of the Dog.
