狗

Dog (Canis familiaris).

Contrast with 犬 (quǎn): While both refer to the same animal, 犬 is generally more formal and is common in ritual texts, official documents, and early philosophical treatises. 狗 carries a more colloquial or domestic connotation and is the preferred term for derogatory use.

When encountering this glyph, consider if the author is signaling pejorative intent (denoting servility or "lackey" status), a specific reference to domesticity over a generic canine, or a deliberate register shift from a formal tone toward one that is casual or biting.