DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

狗尾續貂

简狗尾续貂 · 繁狗尾續貂

Mandarin · pinyin gǒu wěi xù diāo

lit. to use a dog's tail as a substitute for sable fur (idiom)
fig. a worthless sequel to a masterpiece

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

狗: gǒu · dog, Canis familiaris
尾: wěi · tail, extremity; end, stern; 6th lunar mansion, determinative star μ¹ Scorpii (Xamidimura)
續: Look up this written character
貂: diāo · marten, sable, mink
续: xù · continue, carry on; succeed

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

3–3–4–1 · gou3 wei3 xu4 diao1

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

4character links

Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

狗尾續貂 · find source passages ↗ · 狗尾续貂 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

gau2 mei5 zuk6 diu1

Cantonese word readings for 狗尾續貂. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to write a bad sequel to a fine work

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack