狗东西 (gǒu dōng xī) — scumbag, scoundrel | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A strong, vulgar insult — literally 'dog thing' — used in anger to call someone a despicable scumbag. Stronger and more offensive than 坏人.

noun

scumbagscoundrel

Measure word · 个

Examples

狗东西！
Zhè ge gǒu dōng xī jū rán tōu le wǒ de qián!
This scumbag actually stole my money!
狗东西，。
Bié lǐ nà ge gǒu dōng xī, tā bú shì hǎo rén.
Don't pay attention to that scumbag, he's not a good person.
狗东西？
Nǐ zhè zhǒng gǒu dōng xī hái yǒu liǎn lái jiàn wǒ?
A scumbag like you still has the nerve to come see me?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

东西thing

东dōngeast西xīwest

联合Coordinate

Dog and thing combine as an insult for a scoundrel.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

句

句jù狗gǒu

Same sound today

狗 combines 犬, meaning dog, with 句, which gives the sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 東; 东 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 東 originally drew a full bag tied at both ends. The simplified 东 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in

People (General)

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