the snarling of dogs
狺 centers on the aggressive, guttural sound of a dog snarling or growling.
狺 combines 犭 (dog) with 言 (words/speech), suggesting a dog's vocalization, specifically snarling. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination is straightforward.
A dog 犭 using words 言: imagine a dog trying to speak but only managing a threatening snarl.
For ゲン, picture a dog snarling at a genie (ゲン) emerging from a lamp: the genie's appearance makes the dog growl.
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