狗
gǒu/koʊ̯²¹⁴/
The English phrase 'dogs' is translated into Chinese as 狗 (gǒu).
狗 refers to domesticated carnivorous mammals often kept as pets or working animals. You may also encounter the term 汪汪 (wāng wāng), which imitates the sound of a dog's barking.
Which one should you use?
While 狗 is the standard term, you may see other forms depending on the context. 犬类 (quǎn lèi) means canines, whereas 狗类 (gǒu lèi) specifically refers to the category of dogs. For more affectionate or casual speech, 狗狗 (gǒu gǒu) is used for 'doggy' and its plural form is 狗狗们 (gǒu gǒu men).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Cantonese dialect, dogs is commonly referred to as 狗 (gau).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 狗 does not change form for plurality. It is used for both the singular 'dog' and the plural 'dogs'.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is gǒu.
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, calling someone a 狗 is often a strong insult, implying they are shameless or a lackey for others.
- The word 狗 can be used as a prefix in various slang terms to describe someone who is obsessively devoted to a hobby or a person, such as 'single-dog' for people who are chronically single.
- Ancient Chinese texts like the Yuelu Qin manuscripts show that 狗 (gǒu) was once used to refer to a young animal or a cub, rather than just an adult dog.
Examples in context
- 我不喜歡狗。I don't like dogs.This sentence shows how to express a dislike for dogs using 狗.Tatoeba #1959163 by egg0073, translation #257244 by CK
- 你喜歡狗嗎？Do you like dogs?This sentence is a way to ask if someone likes dogs using 狗.Tatoeba #6047153 by xjjAstrus, translation #3123308 by CK
- 汤姆喜欢狗。Tom loves dogs.This sentence demonstrates the verb 'to love' used with 狗.Tatoeba #7771665 by jiangche, translation #2244696 by CK
- 我正在进行一项关于犬的科研研究。I am conducting a scientific research study on dogs.
- 我昨天带我家的狗狗去公园散步。I took my dog for a walk in the park yesterday.
- 73 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are walking in a park.
- 伟 Wei那边有很多狗。Nàbiān yǒu hěnduō gǒu.There are many dogs over there.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那些狗看起来很可爱。Nàxiē gǒu kàn qǐlái hěn kě'ài.Those dogs look very cute.
- 伟 Wei你想去喂它们吗？Nǐ xiǎng qù wèi tāmen ma?Do you want to go feed them?
- 佳怡 Jiayi好啊，我也很喜欢狗。Hǎo a, wǒ yě hěn xǐhuān gǒu.Okay, I like dogs very much too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 狗, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 狗, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
