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牿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
牿gùcattle shedx, 11 strokes, radical 牛
牿gùshed or pen for cattleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 牛
gù(gu4) T4
  1. 1cattle shed
  2. 2shed or pen for cattle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

牿gù(gu4)

The character 牿 (gù) refers to a cattle shed or a pen where cattle are kept. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts and is particularly relevant in discussions about farming, livestock management, or rural life in China.

Strokes11Radical牛
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, the cattle shed is crucial for the care and management of livestock, reflecting the importance of cattle in farming practices and cultural heritage. This character embodies a part of rural life that is less common in modern urban contexts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, sturdy structure where cows are sheltered. The character 牿 resembles a roof (亠) over a cow (牛), symbolizing protection and home for the cattle. You can think of ‘gù’ as the sound of a cow mooing, reminding you of its purpose.

Meanings of 牿

gù(gu4)
1cattle shed
2shed or pen for cattle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 牿

牿Simplified
11Strokes
牛Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 牿

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Podcast: 牿

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 牿

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in rural or agricultural contexts, so it may not be familiar in urban settings. Be careful not to confuse 牿 (gù) with other similar-sounding words, and remember that it is a more formal term. It often collocates with words like '养' (raise) or '圈' (pen).

HSK Study Tips

Although 牿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 3 words related to animals and farming, such as 牛 (niú, cow) and 养 (yǎng, to raise). Focus on the radicals and components in this character to better understand its meaning and usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 牿 with other characters that have similar sounds or meanings, such as 圈 (quān, pen). Ensure you practice distinguishing between these terms to avoid mix-ups.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 牿

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Etymology of 牿

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

ox

Semantic (meaning)牛
+
Phonetic (sound)告
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 牿

  1. 1The meaning half牛 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half告 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayox
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 牿? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 牿?

Decomposition of 牿

IDS Structure⿰牛告
牿Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
告gao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 牿?

How to say cattle shed in Chinese

“cattle shed” in Chinese is牿gù

The character 牿 (gù) refers to a cattle shed or a pen where cattle are kept. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts and is particularly relevant in discussions about farming, livestock management, or rural life in China.

When to use 牿

This term is primarily used in rural or agricultural contexts, so it may not be familiar in urban settings. Be careful not to confuse 牿 (gù) with other similar-sounding words, and remember that it is a more formal term. It often collocates with words like '养' (raise) or '圈' (pen).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 牿 with other characters that have similar sounds or meanings, such as 圈 (quān, pen). Ensure you practice distinguishing between these terms to avoid mix-ups.

Write 牿

牿

Practice writing 牿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 牿

Words Containing This Character1
牿gùshed or pen for cattle
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 牿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 牿

No, it is more specialized and might not be known by those who do not have a background in agriculture.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 牿?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.