When the formation data identifies 牛 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
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Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
牛
Radical 93 of 214 · 4 strokes
Cow
niú
Unicode uses 牛 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is cow, ox, bull; Kangxi radical 93; 9th lunar mansion, determinative star β Capricorni (Dabih). The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
10 course characters43 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
10 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 10 characters.
牛niúox, cow, bullDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of the head of a cow.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- Not available
HSK words with 牛3 words in this course
物wùthing, substance, matter; creatureDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 勿 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "variety", depicting the variety of colors on a cow. Later the meaning shifted to "things".
- 牛Semantic componentcow
- 勿Phonetic componentdo not
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 牛 + 勿
HSK words with 物17 words in this course
特tèspecial, unique, distinguishedDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound.
- 牛Semantic componentcow
- 寺Phonetic componenttemple
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 牛 + 寺
HSK words with 特10 words in this course
牢láopen, prison, stable; fast, firm, secureDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A stable 宀 where cattle are kept 牛
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 宀 + 牛
- Also indexed under
- 宀 roof
HSK words with 牢2 words in this course
牧mùshepherd; to tend cattleDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A hand 攵 leading an ox 牛
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 牛 + 攵
HSK words with 牧1 word in this course
牵qiānto drag, to pull, to lead by the handDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A person 大 pulling an ox 牛 by a rope 冖
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 大 + 冖 + 牛
- Also indexed under
- 大 big
HSK words with 牵3 words in this course
牲shēngsacrificial animal; domestic animalDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 生 represents the sound.
- 牛Semantic componentcow
- 生Phonetic componentbe born; life
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 牛 + 生
HSK words with 牲2 words in this course
牺xīto sacrifice, to give up, to die for a causeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 西 represents the sound. Simplified form of 犧.
- 牛Semantic componentcow
- 西Phonetic componentwest
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 牛 + 西
HSK words with 牺1 word in this course
牽qiānto drag, to pull, to lead by the handDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A person pulling 冖 an ox 牛 by a rope 玄
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 玄 + 冖 + 牛
HSK words with 牽3 words in this course
犧xīto sacrifice, to give up, to die for a causeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: 牛 contributes the broad semantic category “ox”; 羲 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 牛 cow
- Visual structure
- 牛 + 羲
HSK words with 犧1 word in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.