Japanese wolf (extinct)
Refers specifically to the extinct Japanese wolf (Canis lupus hodophilax). Often used in historical or ecological contexts.
The Japanese wolf has already gone extinct in Japan.
wild dog; mountain dog
Can refer to any wild canine, such as a dingo or feral dog, especially in mountainous areas. Less common than the extinct wolf sense.
We heard the howling of a wild dog deep in the mountains.
pet dog; domesticated dog
Standard kanji spelling for this word.
Rare kanji variant; not commonly used.
Compound of 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 犬 (inu, 'dog'), literally 'mountain dog'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used to refer to the now-extinct Japanese wolf.