落水狗

luòshuǐgǒu

noun #15,756

Meanings

1 underdog
2 person who has fallen from power
3 someone down on their luck

Characters

to fall; to drop

Examples

HSK 6

他现在成了落水狗，没人愿意帮他。

Tā xiànzài chéng le luòshuǐgǒu, méi rén yuànyì bāng tā.

He's become a fallen figure now; nobody is willing to help him.

HSK 7-9

不要对落水狗落井下石。

Búyào duì luòshuǐgǒu luòjǐng-xiàshí.

Don't kick someone when they're down.

Tips

culture

The famous phrase 痛打落水狗 ('beat the drowning dog') comes from Lu Xun, meaning to show no mercy to a defeated enemy. It was widely used during political campaigns in 20th century China.

Stroke Order

落 luò

水 shuǐ

狗 gǒu