柴犬

Japanese

柴犬 (shiba inu, shiba ken): a Shiba Inu puppy.

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
柴 犬
しば
Jinmeiyō		 いぬ
Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 柴 (shiba, “brushwood”) +‎ 犬 (inu, “dog”),[1][2] possibly in reference to the dog's small stature and ability to pursue prey even through overgrown terrain.

Pronunciation

Noun

柴犬 (hiragana しばいぬ, rōmaji shibainu)

  1. a Shiba Inu

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
柴 犬
しば
Jinmeiyō		 けん
Grade: 1
yutōyomi

Compound of 柴 (shiba, “brushwood”) +‎ 犬 (ken, “dog”), using the on'yomi of ken for the second character.

Pronunciation

Noun

柴犬 (hiragana しばけん, rōmaji shibaken)

  1. a Shiba Inu
Usage notes

The shiba inu reading appears to be more common.

References

  1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 1 2 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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