Onyomi: ケン · Kunyomi: いぬ, いぬ- · Meanings: dog
Kanji for dog
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The kanji 犬 began as a simple drawing of a dog, with a curved tail and head. In ancient scripts, it clearly depicted a loyal animal sitting beside humans. Dogs were companions, protectors, and hunters — symbols of loyalty and faithfulness. Over time, 犬 came to represent dogs in general and the qualities they embody: devotion, courage, and trust.
A shape of a dog with a tail — 犬 means dog, symbolizing loyalty, courage, and companionship.
Picture a faithful dog wagging its tail beside you — that’s 犬, the kanji of loyalty and friendship.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 犬 | いぬ | dog (Canis (lupus) familiaris) | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 犬歯 | けんし | eyetooth, cuspid, canine (tooth), dogtooth | Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 犬小屋 | いぬごや | kennel, doghouse | Noun |
| 犬も食わない | いぬもくわない | avoided by everybody, disliked by everybody, not even a dog will eat (it) | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), I-adjective (keiyoushi) |
| 犬猫 | いぬねこ | dogs and cats, pets | Noun |
| 犬嫌い | いぬぎらい | dog hater, dog hating | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.) |
| 犬と猿 | いぬとさる | cats and dogs (as an example of a bad relationship), dogs and monkeys | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 犬猿の仲 | けんえんのなか | like cats and dogs, (on) very bad terms, relationship of dogs and monkeys | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 犬かき | いぬかき | dog paddle (swimming style), doggy paddle | Noun |
| 犬槙 | いぬまき | yew plum pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) | Noun |