Meaning
The kanji 犬 represents man's best friend. While it primarily refers to the domestic dog (Canis familiaris), its use in Japanese culture covers everything from loyalty to gritty metaphors. This character is a classic pictograph (shōmonji). Originally, ancient oracle bone scripts depicted a dog standing on its side, showing a clear head, legs, and a curved tail.
Over centuries, these features were simplified into the four strokes used today. The main body resembles the kanji for 'big' (大), while the distinctive dot on the upper right represents the dog's ear. Linguistically, 犬 acts as both a standalone kanji and a radical. When it appears on the left side of other kanji, it changes shape to 犭, known as 'kemono-hen' or the beast radical. You can see this radical in common animal kanji like 猫 (cat) and 狐 (fox).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — ケン
The reading ケン (ken) usually appears in compound words (kango). These terms often sound more formal or technical. You will frequently encounter this reading in words describing specific roles, such as service dogs or biological classifications.
- 愛犬 (aiken) — One's beloved pet dog.
- 盲導犬 (mōdōken) — A guide dog for the visually impaired.
- 猟犬 (ryōken) — A hound or hunting dog.
- 成犬 (seiken) — An adult dog (as opposed to a puppy).
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — いぬ
The reading いぬ (inu) is the native Japanese word for dog. This is the version used in daily conversation and casual writing. When the kanji stands alone, it is almost always read this way. It also appears in 'Yamato kotoba' compounds where Japanese words are joined together.
- 子犬 (koinu) — A puppy (literally 'child dog').
- 犬小屋 (inugoya) — A doghouse or kennel.
- 野良犬 (norainu) — A stray dog.
- 飼い犬 (kaiinu) — A pet dog; a dog that is kept by a family.
Common Words & Compounds
Japanese uses the concept of the dog in various metaphorical ways. Some refer to loyalty, while others are used as insults or to describe social standing.
Working and Social Roles:
- 警察犬 (keisatsuken) — Police dog.
- 番犬 (banken) — Watchdog.
- 救助犬 (kyūjoken) — Search and rescue dog.
- 捨て犬 (suteinu) — An abandoned dog.
Idioms and Metaphors:
- 犬猿の仲 (ken'en no naka) — To be like 'dogs and monkeys' (the Japanese equivalent of 'cats and dogs'). It describes two people who cannot get along.
- 負け犬 (makeinu) — A 'beaten dog' or a loser. Often used to describe someone who has suffered a social defeat.
- 忠犬 (chūken) — A faithful dog. This is most famously used for Hachiko (忠犬ハチ公).
- 犬死に (inujini) — To die in vain. It literally means 'dying like a dog' without purpose.
Example Sentences
公園で大きな犬に追いかけられました。
kōen de ōkina inu ni oikakeraremashita.
I was chased by a large dog in the park.
この子犬は、まだ生後ニカ月です。
kono koinu wa, mada seigo nikagetsu desu.
This puppy is only two months old.
盲導犬がハーネスをつけたら、仕事中の合図です。
mōdōken ga hānesu wo tsuketara, shigotochū no aizu desu.
When a guide dog wears its harness, it's a sign that it is working.
隣の家の人とは、残念ながら犬猿の仲です。
tonari no ie no hito to wa, zannen nagara ken'en no naka desu.
Unfortunately, I'm on bad terms with my neighbor; we're like cats and dogs.
警察犬の鼻は、人間よりずっと鋭いです。
keisatsuken no hana wa, ningen yori zutto surudoi desu.
A police dog's nose is much sharper than a human's.
Related Kanji
- 森 — Forest (Kanji N4)
- 便 — Convenience, Facility, Communication (Kanji N4)
- 工 — Craft, Construction, Work (Kanji N4)
- 近 — Near, Close, Recent (Kanji N4)
- 力 — Power, Strength, Force (Kanji N4)
- 物 — Thing, Object, Matter (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Compare 犬 to the kanji for 'big' (大). Imagine 大 is a person standing with their arms and legs spread wide. Now, look at the extra dot in 犬. Think of that dot as a treat the dog is balancing on its nose, or perhaps its perked-up ear. A 'big' (大) animal with an 'ear' (dot) is a dog!