The character 牛 originally depicted the head of a bull, with the top strokes representing its curved horns and the vertical stroke its face. Over time, it became the standard character for 'cow' or 'ox'. The simple shape makes it easy to remember as an animal with horns.
English speakers might literally translate 'cow water' for milk, but Chinese uses 奶 for milk.
Combining two animal characters without a conjunction is not natural; use 或 (or) to list animals.
牛 means 'cow' and 午 means 'noon'; they look similar but have different meanings and strokes.
| Dimension | 牛 | 午 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | cow; ox | noon; midday |
| Pinyin | niú | wǔ |
| Stroke count | 4 | 4 |
| Visual | horns and face | pestle shape |
牛 can be used alone as a noun meaning 'cow' or 'ox', but it is also very common in compounds like 牛奶 (milk) and 牛肉 (beef).
| Dimension | Standalone | In compound |
|---|---|---|
| Example | 牛很大。 | 我喜欢喝牛奶。 |
| Meaning | The cow is big. | I like drinking milk. |
| Usage | As a noun | As a descriptive word |
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
整桌的龙虾、 和牛 ，他一点儿没有碰，全程只动了三次筷子：一筷子鱼，一根青菜，半碗汤。
烤 和牛 上桌的时候别人都在夹。
旁边他公司的一位副总赶紧抓起公筷，夹了一块儿 和牛 放到他碟子里。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
我买了鸡蛋、面包、 牛奶 ，还有一些水果，这些都是你和我的吃的和喝的东西，还有给我们的小猫和小狗吃的东西。
Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.
面包一块二， 牛奶 四块三。
This simple story introduces you to a family and what each member likes to do. Learn helpful words for food and daily activities as you read about Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and the kids.
爷爷吃面包，奶奶喝 牛奶 。
Before you read, think about names: a train is called 'fire vehicle' in Chinese, but there's no fire! This simple rhyme will help you laugh while reviewing everyday words.
米饭不是米，鸡蛋不是蛋， 牛奶 不是奶。
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