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里犬 (さといぬ, satoinu) Japanese meaning: pet dog | Kotomora
じ 字
Kanji 里 ri, village, parent's home Related words 山やま 犬いぬ 山犬 refers to a wild dog or wolf living in the mountains, while 里犬 is a domesticated dog living among people.
飼か い 犬いぬ 飼い犬 is a more common word for 'pet dog', emphasizing the act of keeping/raising. 里犬 has a slightly more literary or folkloric feel, often contrasting with wild dogs.
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In old tales, pet dogs and mountain dogs are often contrasted.
Around here, you often see domesticated dogs roaming freely.
Japanese wolf (extinct) · wild dog; mountain dog
Etymology Compound of 里 (village, home) and 犬 (dog). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used to distinguish domesticated dogs from wild ones.
