狗年春節就要到了，拜年的吉祥話都想好了嗎？你可能會發現，今年很難像往年一樣發送生肖主題的祝福語，因為在中國文化里，和狗相關的詞匯通常都帶有貶義。過去，提到狗我們首先想到的就是“落水狗”、“看門狗”、“喪家犬”等。不過，近年來隨著“單身汪”、“加班狗”等詞語的流行，狗在漢語中的文化內涵也有所變化。

#Self-mocker
自嘲

Words and phrases containing dogs (Gou in Chinese) are commonly used by young people when cracking jokes about themselves.
年輕人經常拿含有狗的字詞來自嘲。

For example, in Mandarin, you can say "Valentine's Day has nothing to do with me since I am a single dog."
例如，在普通話中，你可以說“情人節與我無關，因為我是一只‘單身汪’?！?/p>

"Overtime dog" is another title frequently referred to those who work long hours.
“加班狗”一般是對長時間工作的人的另一種稱呼。

It is believed that words and phrases like these containing humor and self-deprecation ease the stigma attached to dog-related words.
人們認為，這類幽默自嘲式的詞語讓與狗相關的詞匯得以“洗掉污名”。

#Representation of close relationship
表示親密關系

Adding "dog" to a friend's name can also be considered as a proof of a close relationship.
在朋友的名字后加“狗”字，也可以看作是關系親密的證明。

One of the most prominent examples in China is that of the actor Lin Gengxin, who is called Lin Gou - Chinese for Lin Dog - by his celebrity friends and beloved fans.
國內最有名的例子就是演員林更新，他被自己的明星友人和親愛的粉絲稱為“林狗”。

#Easy to raise
#好養活

Children with amiable names are easy to bring up, according to an ancient Chinese proverb.
中國古代有句俗語，叫“賤名好養活”。

Parents in rural areas prefer to give nicknames including Gou Sheng and Gou Dan to their children in the hope that they are as easy to be fostered as dogs.
農村地區的父母樂于給孩子取個小名，比如“狗?！薄ⅰ肮返啊钡龋Ｍ麄兿窆芬粯尤菀尊B大。

#Metaphor
#隱喻

Since dogs are considered to be loyal and diligent, the word is included in more than 10 Chinese metaphors.
狗被視為忠誠、勤奮的象征，漢語中以狗喻人的詞語有10多個。

For instance, "serve like a dog or a horse," is used to describe someone who is ready to render his humble services to the authorities.
例如，“犬馬之勞”，是用來形容一個人擺出謙卑姿態準備受人差遣。

"Dogs don't bark to their owners" is an idiom usually adopted to represent the loyalty of ministers to their monarchs.
“狗吠非主”這個成語通常用來表示臣子對君主的忠誠。

英文來源：CGTN
編譯：董靜
審校：yaning