狗
gau²
The Cantonese word for dog is 狗 (gau²). Wiktionary also lists 犬 (hyun²).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 狗 | gau² | |
| 犬 | hyun² | literary |
The word refers to the animal known as a dog.
Which one should you use?
狗 is the standard term, while 犬 is a literary form.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting dogs, you must use the classifier 隻 (zek1) instead of a general number-noun construction.
How do you pronounce it?
gau²
Did you know?
- In Cantonese slang, the phrase 狗血 literally means 'dog blood' but is used to describe a plot in a movie or drama that is overly melodramatic or cliché.
- The term 狗仔隊 literally means 'puppy team' but is the common Cantonese word for the paparazzi.
- In Cantonese, calling someone a 狗 (gau2) can be a severe insult, often implying the person is a sycophant or lacks a backbone.
Examples in context
- 我係一隻狗。I'm a dog.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of the classifier 隻 with 狗.Tatoeba #1765985 by nickyeow, translation #5359762 by CarpeLanam
- 咁大隻狗嘅！What a big dog!This sentence shows how to use 狗 when expressing surprise at the size of the animal.Tatoeba #1774574 by nickyeow, translation #528258 by fanty
- 我鍾意呢隻狗。I like this dog.This sentence demonstrates how to use 狗 when expressing a preference for a specific animal.Tatoeba #3475950 by nickyeow, translation #439591 by landano
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ka Yan and Zi Jian are walking in a park.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan子健，睇下嗰隻狗！zi2 gin6, tai2 haa5 go2 zek3 gau2!Zi Jian, look at that dog!
- 子健 Tsz Kin係喎，好得意呀。hai6 wo3, hou2 dak1 yi3 aa3.You're right, it's so cute.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan你想唔想摸下隻狗？nei5 soeng2 bat1 soeng2 mok1 haa5 zek3 gau2?Do you want to pet the dog?
- 子健 Tsz Kin唔敢，我驚佢咬我。m4 gam2, ngo5 geng1 keoi5 ngaau5 ngo5.I don't dare, I'm afraid it will bite me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
