犬: the kanji for dog
犬 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means dog. Below are its readings, 8 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
犬 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
犬 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 8 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ケン (ken)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 愛犬あいけん · aiken | one's beloved dog |
| 番犬ばんけん · banken | watchdog |
| 盲導犬もうどうけん · mōdōken | guide dog |
| 犬種けんしゅ · kenshu | dog breed |
いぬ (inu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 犬いぬ · inu | dog |
| 子犬こいぬ · koinu | puppy |
| 飼い犬かいいぬ · kaiinu | pet dog |
| 柴犬しばいぬ · shibainu | Shiba Inu |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 犬を飼っています。Inu o katte imasu.I have a dog.
- このマンションは犬を飼ってもいいですか。Kono manshon wa inu o katte mo ii desu ka.Are dogs allowed in this apartment building?
- 毎朝、犬と散歩します。Maiasa, inu to sanpo shimasu.I walk my dog every morning.
- 柴犬は日本の犬です。Shibainu wa Nihon no inu desu.The Shiba Inu is a Japanese dog breed.
- 駅に盲導犬を連れた人がいました。Eki ni mōdōken o tsureta hito ga imashita.There was a person with a guide dog at the station.
- 出張中は犬をペットホテルに預けます。Shutchōchū wa inu o petto hoteru ni azukemasu.I leave my dog at a pet hotel while I'm on business trips.
Questions about 犬
How many strokes does 犬 have?
犬 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 犬?
The on readings are ken (ケン). The kun readings are inu (いぬ).
Can you keep a dog in a Japanese apartment?
Only in buildings that allow pets. Look for ペット可 (petto ka, pets allowed) in the listing, and check the size limits and any extra deposit before signing.
What JLPT level is 犬?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Food, animals and nature
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 犬
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.