Basic Meaning
The word "犬" (いぬ) simply means "dog" in Japanese. It is a common noun used to refer to dogs in general, whether as pets or animals.
Usage in Sentences
You will often see 犬 used in everyday conversation when talking about pets, animals, or specific dogs. For example, "犬が好きです" means "I like dogs."
Common Collocations
- 犬を飼う (いぬをかう): to keep a dog as a pet
- 犬の散歩 (いぬのさんぽ): walking the dog
- 犬が吠える (いぬがほえる): the dog barks
These phrases are useful for daily conversations about dogs.
Register and Politeness
犬 is a neutral, standard word and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. When speaking politely, you might add honorifics or use more formal expressions, but 犬 itself remains the same.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 犬 (いぬ) with the katakana ドッグ (doggu), which is a loanword from English and used mainly in loanword contexts or brand names. Stick to 犬 for general use.
Understanding 犬 well helps you talk about pets and animals naturally in Japanese.