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狗腿子 (gǒu tuǐ zi) — (colloquial, derogatory) henchman, lackey, hired thug

Definition

A derogatory colloquial term for a 'henchman' or 'lackey' — someone who does a powerful person's dirty work, often bullying others for them. Stronger and rougher than neutral 手下.

noun
(colloquial, derogatory) henchmanlackeyhired thug
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 狗腿子。
    Nà ge huài rén shēn biān zǒng yǒu jǐ gè gǒu tuǐ zi.
    That bad guy always has a few henchmen around him.
  • ，狗腿子。
    Tā wèi le qián, gān xīn dāng lǎo bǎn de gǒu tuǐ zi.
    He willingly became the boss's lackey for money.
  • 狗腿子。
    Zhè xiē gǒu tuǐ zi zhuān mén qī fu lǎo bǎi xìng.
    These hired thugs specifically bully ordinary people.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

狗腿dog's leg
狗gǒudog腿tuǐleg
偏正Modifier + head
子zǐsuffix

The literal image of a 狗腿 suggests a servile follower, and 子 completes the colloquial form.

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
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
句
句jù狗gǒu
Same sound today

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

Open 狗 →

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
肉肉ròuflesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
退
退tuì腿tuǐ
Same sound today

The 肉 part is flesh, showing a body part; the 退 part gives the sound.

Open 腿 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Crime & PoliceSocial Roles & Status

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