Phrase guide

foo dog

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A stylized lion statue similar to those usually placed in male and female pairs outside imperial Chinese palaces, tombs, temples, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: foo lion, guardian lion, stone lion, komainu

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A Pekingese dog.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Alternative letter-case form of foo dog

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Possibly a Western invention, from Mandarin 福 (fú, “good fortune”) + English dog. There is no similar word in Chinese itself that uses the word 福 (fú), but see English foo and Foo. Compare also Chinese 佛 (“Buddha”), pronounced fo or fu in some varieties.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 石獅子 /石狮子 (shíshīzi) — Chinese statue
  • Chinese Mandarin: 石獅 /石狮 (shíshī) — Chinese statue
  • Finnish: leijonakoira — Chinese statue
  • German: Wächterlöwe — Chinese statue
  • Japanese: 狛犬 (komainu) — Chinese statue
  • Korean: 해태 (haetae) — Chinese statue
  • Korean: 해태 (haetae) — Chinese statue
  • Okinawan: シーサー (shīsā) — Chinese statue
  • Polish: lew chiński — Chinese statue
  • Vietnamese: sư tử đá — Chinese statue