犬

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 犬, read いぬ, refers to a dog.
• Basic usage: It is used when describing a dog’s color or behavior, or sheltering a lost dog.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Readings when counting
  • The counter 匹, commonly used for dogs, changes its reading with the number. 一匹 is いっぴき, and 二匹 is にひき.