A domesticated canid (dog). Commonly kept as a pet or working animal (barking, guarding, walking, etc.).
毎朝、犬を散歩に連れて行く。
I take the dog for a walk every morning.
近所に新しい犬が引っ越してきたらしい。
It seems a new dog moved in next door.
子どもたちは公園で犬と遊んでいた。
The children were playing with a dog in the park.
この犬種はとても人懐っこい性格だ。
This dog breed has a very friendly temperament.
A derogatory term for a squealer, snitch, informer, or spy. Often written in kana (いぬ) and used as an insult.
裏切り者をみんなから『いぬ』と呼ばれた。
The traitor was called a 'squealer' by everyone.
警察に情報を流したことがバレて、彼は仲間から犬扱いされた。
When it was found out he gave information to the police, he was treated like a dog by his colleagues.
A derogatory insult meaning a loser or contemptible person (similar to 'bastard' or 'loser'). Colloquial and offensive.
そんなことを言うなんて、まったく犬だな。
Saying something like that—you're really a dog (what a jerk).
彼は約束を破ったので、仲間から犬呼ばわりされた。
He broke his promise and was called a dog by his friends.
Used as a prefix in older/archaic compounds to indicate something inferior, worthless, or futile. Rare in modern usage except in fixed expressions.
古い文学では『犬死に』のように『犬』が『無駄な・つまらない』という意味を作ることがある。
In old literature, '犬' can form words like '犬死に' (dying in vain), giving a sense of 'futile' or 'worthless'.