In a dog’s world
When referring to the dog, Chinese idioms paint it as heartless, condescending and even despicable.
THERE are plenty of Chinese idioms with references to the dog. In many of these canine-associated idioms, the Chinese do not seem to have good or kind words for dogs. In fact, “the dog” is victimised or is blamed for causing chaos, and is thought to be condescending and even a traitor.
Sinologist Dr Lai Kuan Fook, 80, explains: “Generally the Chinese are fond of dogs which they consider as faithful and loyal. However, some Chinese idioms associated with the dog tell of its shortcomings. Some idioms convey the message of condemning others or indicating that a person is contemptuous, unscrupulous or behaving worse than an animal!
The idiom Gou yao lu dong bin (Dog bites Lu Dongbin) is suggestive of someone who does not recognise a good person (like the kind-hearted Lu Dongbin) and misunderstands his intentions, Lai said.
(Lu Dongbin was a Tang Dynasty Chinese scholar and poet. He was elevated to the status of an immortal and worshipped by the Taoists. One of the Eight Immortals and de facto leader, he had a genuine desire to help people obtain wisdom or enlightenment.)
The most insulting idiom, Lai said, has to be the reference of someone as a running dog. The idiom, Han jian zou gou, tells of a traitor who works for the enemy or is the enemy’s lackey.
Chinese brush painter Simon Chan, 67, says there is a Chinese idiom similar to “Look before you leap”.
The idiom, Da gou kan zhu (Before hitting dog, see who is the master) is a cue to be careful when dealing with bad hats. You don’t want to mess with the leader!
Lang xin gou fei (Wolf’s heart, dog’s lungs) is an idiom about a brutal and ill-hearted person.
“It is also to describe a heartless and unmerciful person who is worse than an animal!” said Chan.
Gou kou li sheng bu chu xiang ya (The dog’s mouth cannot grow elephant’s tusks) is to tell you not to expect compliments from a rascal.
When someone indirectly scolds another. this Chinese idiom comes to mind: Zhi ji ma gou (Point at the chicken but scold the dog).
“It means someone is scolding or talking bad about B but A is actually the target,” he said.
And if someone says that a person has Zhu peng gou you (Friends of pigs and dogs), he is bad mouthing another for “associating with friends who are jobless and lazy!”
A popular idiom advising a married woman to resign to her fate is: Jia ji sui ji, jia gou sui gou. The idiom means, “After marriage, for better or worse, the woman has to follow her destiny for her entire life.”