Say Hello to Maggie
I wrote previously about our family debates on whether to get a new dog. The debate is settled, and our new Shih Tzu puppy comes home in a few weeks. I'm excited, but aprehensive. Sort of like having kids all over again.
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I wrote previously about our family debates on whether to get a new dog. The debate is settled, and our new Shih Tzu puppy comes home in a few weeks. I'm excited, but aprehensive. Sort of like having kids all over again.
Comments
She's so sweet! They're great dogs, Shih Tzu (though strong-willed).
Hmmm... I've always wondered why the breed name was anglicised like so, though. In Mandarin, it is "Si(0) Shi(0)".
Posted by: ILOVEDOGS | January 14, 2007 2:41 AM
It was a close call between the Shih Tzu and your suggestion of a Westie. I personally think Westies are cuter, but they're instincts seem to be more toward digging and darting after whatever rodent is passing by. So we went with the calmer dog, but we'll see.
Interesting that the Shi Tzu name has been anglicised so. All the guide books says it means Lion Dog or Small Lion in Mandarin. What actually does it mean in Mandarin?
Posted by: jd | January 14, 2007 8:04 AM
Congrats, JD--she'll keep you busy! :)
Posted by: Lisa | January 14, 2007 9:54 AM
What guide books are they??!
Lion Dog = Shi (0) Gou (3)
Small Lion = Xiao (3) Shi (0)
I can only imagine that someone thought it was a different 'shi' character (which does mean lion).
But Xi (0) Shi (0) - sorry I was not exactly wrong before but not technically right - I am unfamiliar with pinyin, which is Chinese. We use ZhuYin in Taiwan - same sounds, but we have our own written form rather than use the English alphabet) - uses a different character (i.e. not "lion") for "shi".
Xi = west
Shi = to apply
It doesn't mean anything, literally! However, put together, the two characters make the name of one of the most beautiful women in Chinese history! :-)
Maggie does it justice, alright!
Posted by: ILOVEDOGS | January 15, 2007 5:20 AM
Thanks Lisa, I'm sure it will be an eyeopening experience.
That's funny ILOVEDOGS. Example of publications/websites that misappropriate the meaning of the name include the American Shih Tzu Club, as well as some Shih Tzu guide published by Dog Fancy Magazine. Wikipedia seems to have it correct though.
Posted by: jd | January 15, 2007 6:10 AM