犬
犬 means ‘dog.’ It is often taught as a pictograph of a dog, and learners can remember it by comparing it with 大 (large/big), which looks similar but has no dot.
Reading
On’yomi:
ケン (KEN)
Kun’yomi:
いぬ (inu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 犬 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | dog |
| Stroke Count | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
犬 is the everyday word for dog in Japanese (いぬ). The on’yomi ケン appears in some compound words and formal expressions. Dogs appear throughout Japanese folklore and are culturally significant as loyal companions.
Common Words
-
犬
（いぬ）
— dog -
子犬
（こいぬ）
— puppy -
愛犬
（あいけん）
— beloved dog, one’s pet dog -
番犬
（ばんけん）
— watchdog, guard dog -
野犬
（やけん）
— stray dog -
犬歯
（けんし）
— canine tooth (fang)
Example Sentences
-
家に犬が二匹います。
いえにいぬがにひきいます。
I have two dogs at home.
-
その子犬はとてもかわいいです。
そのこいぬはとてもかわいいです。
That puppy is very cute.
-
毎朝犬と散歩します。
まいあさいぬとさんぽします。
I walk my dog every morning.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
犬 and 大 (large/big) are easily confused — 犬 has a dot at the upper right while 大 does not. A helpful reminder: 犬 has an extra mark like a dog’s playful tail, while 大 stretches out wide without it.
Summary
犬 means ‘dog’ and is one of the most common animal kanji for beginners, closely resembling 大 (large) with the addition of a dot.
| Kanji | 犬 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | dog |
| On’yomi | ケン (KEN) |
| Kun’yomi | いぬ (inu) |
| Strokes | 4 |
| JLPT | N5 |