Meanings of 牯
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About 牯
Podcast: 牯
Podcast: 牯
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AI Study Notes for 牯
This term is primarily used in agricultural contexts and is not typically used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 牯牛 (gǔ niú) meaning 'bullock' or 'steer.'
As this character is not included in the official HSK levels, focus on recognizing it in context, especially in texts related to farming or animal husbandry. It can be beneficial to connect it with other animal-related vocabulary at lower HSK levels.
Learners often confuse 牯 with 牛 (niú), leading to incorrect usage in sentences about cattle. For example, saying '我有一个牯' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè gǔ) instead of using '牛' if referring to cattle in general.
Pronunciation of 牯
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Etymology of 牯
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 牯
- 1The meaning half牛 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half古 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayox
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 牯? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 牯
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How to say cow, steer in Chinese
“cow, steer” in Chinese is牯
The character 牯 (gǔ) refers specifically to a male bovine, commonly translated as 'steer' or 'bullock.' It is primarily used in agricultural contexts and discussions about livestock, emphasizing its role in farming and animal husbandry.
When to use 牯
This term is primarily used in agricultural contexts and is not typically used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 牯牛 (gǔ niú) meaning 'bullock' or 'steer.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 牯 with 牛 (niú), leading to incorrect usage in sentences about cattle. For example, saying '我有一个牯' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè gǔ) instead of using '牛' if referring to cattle in general.
Write 牯
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Practice writing 牯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 牯
Compound Meaning
What does 牯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 牯
牯 specifically refers to a male bovine, while 牛 is a more general term for cattle, including both male and female.
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