chow-chow

/ˈtʃaʊˌtʃaʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtʃaʊˌtʃaʊ/ (ame, ipa)

chow-chow — noun

1. a thickly furred medium-sized dog from China, easy to recognise by its dark blue

1.名詞C1
釋義

a thickly furred medium-sized dog from China, easy to recognise by its dark blue-black tongue, lion-like ruff of fur around the head, and curled tail carried over the back.

例句

Tariq adopted a fluffy chow-chow from the shelter last spring.

verb + chow-chow as direct object

The chow-chow at the dog show stood out with its thick reddish coat and dark blue tongue.

definite article + breed name; descriptive context

同義詞
  • chow

    shortened informal name for the same breed

文法句型

a/the chow-chow

chow-chows (plural)

用法筆記

Often used with the indefinite article when introducing the breed and with the plural when making general statements about temperament or grooming. Frequently spelled with a hyphen in dictionaries but commonly written 'chow chow' or simply 'chow' in casual contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I saw a chowchow at the park.
✅I saw a chow-chow at the park.
💡the standard dictionary spelling keeps the hyphen between the two halves.
❌The chow-chow has a blue-black mouth because it is sick.
✅The chow-chow has a blue-black mouth, which is a natural feature of the breed.
💡the dark tongue and mouth are normal, not a sign of illness.

2. a tangy cold side dish made from chopped vegetables such as cabbage, peppers, an

2.名詞C2
釋義

a tangy cold side dish made from chopped vegetables such as cabbage, peppers, and onions, preserved in vinegar, sugar, and mustard-based spices, and usually served alongside cold meats, sausages, or cheese.

例句

Andrés spread a spoonful of chow-chow over his grilled sausage at the family picnic.

spread / serve + chow-chow + over/with [food]

Talia's grandmother makes jars of homemade chow-chow every autumn with cabbage from the garden.

jars / a jar of chow-chow (mass noun)

同義詞
  • relish

    broader American term for a chopped, pickled condiment

  • piccalilli

    British counterpart with similar mustard-spiced pickled vegetables

文法句型

a jar of chow-chow

serve chow-chow with [food]

用法筆記

Treated as a mass noun like 'relish' or 'jam' — you eat 'some chow-chow' or 'a spoonful of chow-chow', not 'a chow-chow' (which would mean the dog). Most common in American Southern and Pennsylvania-Dutch cooking; learners outside North America rarely encounter the word in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌She ate a chow-chow with her ham.
✅She ate some chow-chow with her ham.
💡chow-chow as a relish is uncountable; 'a chow-chow' means the dog breed.
❌The chow-chow tasted very sweet, with thick fur.
✅The chow-chow had thick fur.' OR 'The chow-chow relish tasted very sweet.
💡keep the two senses (dog vs relish) separate in one sentence.