dog

JLPT N5 4 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Overview

The character (quǎn) is a formal or literary term for "dog" in Chinese. It is often seen in classical texts, compound words, or formal writing rather than everyday spoken language, where (gǒu) is more common.

Usage Notes

When you see , it usually refers to dogs in a general or symbolic sense, such as in idioms, literature, or scientific terms. For example, (quǎnlèi) means "canine species." In daily conversation, people prefer .

Common Collocations

  • (quǎnlèi): canine species, used in biology or zoology.
  • (xiǎo quǎn): puppy, a young dog.
  • (lièquǎn): hunting dog, used in hunting contexts.

Tips

Avoid confusing with . is more formal and literary, while is the everyday word for dog. also appears in compound words and names, especially in classical or scientific contexts.

Example Sentences

This dog is very smart and can understand many commands.

In ancient literature, dogs are often used to symbolize loyalty.

His family raised a puppy, which is especially cute.