dog
Definitions
A domesticated four-legged animal kept as a pet, for work, or for hunting
狗，犬
To follow someone closely and persistently; to trouble someone over a long period
尾随，紧追；（问题等）长期困扰
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Old English docga, of unknown origin. As a verb, 'to dog' borrows the animal's behavior — trailing relentlessly: 'reporters dogged the senator,' 'bad luck dogged the team all season.' The noun is simply the animal.
Root dog still carries 4 more wordsWhy It Means This
A rare basic word whose origin is genuinely unknown — it replaced the older 'hound' for no clear reason. The figurative verb sense ('problems dogged him') keeps the image of a hound that won't stop following a trail.
Common Collocations
- 1.pet dog宠物狗
- 2.guide dog导盲犬
- 3.dog breed犬种
- 4.guard dog护卫犬
- 5.stray dog流浪狗
Example Sentences
- 1.
They adopted a rescue dog from the local shelter.
- 2.
Reporters dogged the politician for weeks after the scandal.
- 3.
Money problems dogged the company throughout the year.
Easily Confused
dog vs hound — both are the animal, but 'hound' now means specifically a hunting dog (foxhound, greyhound) and as a verb 'to hound' (chase relentlessly) is even stronger than 'to dog.' In everyday speech the animal is a 'dog'; 'hound' sounds older or specialized.