狼狗 (láng gǒu) — wolfhound, German Shepherd (or any large wolf-like dog)

Definition

noun
wolfhoundGerman Shepherd (or any large wolf-like dog)
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 狼狗。
    Wǒ lín jū yǎng le yì zhī dà láng gǒu.
    My neighbor keeps a big wolfhound.
  • 狼狗。
    láng gǒu De ěr duo shì shù qǐ lái de.
    A German Shepherd's ears stand up.
  • 狼狗。
    Nà tiáo láng gǒu kàn qǐ lái hěn xiōng měng.
    That wolfhound looks very fierce.

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.

狼lángwolf
狗gǒudog

A dog resembling a 狼; a wolf-like 狗.

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
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng狼láng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 犭 (full form 犬) shows a dog-like animal. The right part 良 gives the sound.

Open 狼 →

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 →

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