犬 quǎn dog
How it came to be
A dog seen from the side with its tail curled up over its back. The dot at the top right is that curl, and it is the only thing telling it apart from big.
How it is used
- Dog - the formal/written word, versus everyday 狗 (gǒu) - 警犬 (jǐngquǎn) police dog, 导盲犬 (dǎomángquǎn) guide dog, 忠犬 (zhōngquǎn) a loyal dog.
- 鸡犬不宁 (jīquǎn-bùníng) means so much disturbance even the chickens and dogs get no peace.