How to say "canine" in Japanese

• いぬJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers 'canine' meaning the animal itself, a dog; it is the common word for the animal. Typical context: talking about a pet, a stray, or a neighbor's dog.
  彼女かのじょは吠ほえる犬いぬを怖こわがる。↗

  She is afraid of barking dogs.
• 犬歯けんし
  no-adjectiveA less common word, it covers 'canine' as the tooth: the eyetooth, cuspid, or dogtooth. Typical context: a dentist noting that a patient's canine tooth is worn down.
  プチッ、と糸いとを犬歯けんしで噛み切かみきった。↗

  I snapped the thread on my canine.

Use 「いぬ」 when 'canine' means the animal itself, a dog; use 犬歯 when it refers to the tooth—the eyetooth also called a cuspid or dogtooth.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• いぬdog (Canis (lupus) familiaris)
• 犬歯けんしeyetooth