Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
犏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
犏piānyak-oxx, 13 strokes, radical 牛
piān(pian1) T1
  1. 1yak-ox
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

犏piān(pian1)

The character 犏 (piān) refers specifically to a yak-ox, a domesticated bovine animal found primarily in the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions. It is commonly associated with high-altitude farming and is known for its strength and ability to thrive in harsh conditions.

Strokes13Radical牛
Cultural Note

In Tibetan culture, yaks are vital for transportation, agriculture, and even as a food source. The yak symbolizes resilience and adaptability, reflecting the harsh environment in which it thrives.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong, sturdy yak crossing a snowy mountain pass (the 'piān' sounds like 'pan' which could remind you of 'panning' through snow). The character 犏 has the radical for 'animal' (犭) which visually connects to the animal nature of the yak, emphasizing its role in the lives of mountain-dwelling people.

Meanings of 犏

piān(pian1)
1yak-ox
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 犏

犏Simplified
13Strokes
牛Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 犏

JasonAmy

Podcast: 犏

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 犏

Usage Notes

The word is rarely used in everyday conversation and may mainly appear in agricultural or regional contexts. Be careful with pronunciation; the tone is crucial as it can change the meaning of similar-sounding words. It is typically used in formal or written contexts rather than in casual speech.

HSK Study Tips

Although '犏' is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this character can be helpful for learners interested in regional dialects and agricultural terms. Focus on recognizing similar animal-related characters to expand your vocabulary in this area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 犏 with other animal-related characters due to similar pronunciation. For example, using 犏 incorrectly in place of 牛 (niú) for 'cow' is a common mistake. Remember, 犏 specifically refers to a yak-ox.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 犏

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 犏 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 犏

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

ox

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 犏

  1. 1The meaning half牛 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half扁 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 犏? 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 犏?

Decomposition of 犏

IDS Structure⿰牛扁
犏Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
扁bian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 犏?

How to say yak-ox in Chinese

“yak-ox” in Chinese is犏piān

The character 犏 (piān) refers specifically to a yak-ox, a domesticated bovine animal found primarily in the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions. It is commonly associated with high-altitude farming and is known for its strength and ability to thrive in harsh conditions.

When to use 犏

The word is rarely used in everyday conversation and may mainly appear in agricultural or regional contexts. Be careful with pronunciation; the tone is crucial as it can change the meaning of similar-sounding words. It is typically used in formal or written contexts rather than in casual speech.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 犏 with other animal-related characters due to similar pronunciation. For example, using 犏 incorrectly in place of 牛 (niú) for 'cow' is a common mistake. Remember, 犏 specifically refers to a yak-ox.

Write 犏

犏

Practice writing 犏 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 犏

Words Containing This Character1
犏piānoffspring of a bull and a female yak
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 犏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 犏

Yaks are distinct from cows in terms of habitat and adaptation; yaks are suited for cold, high-altitude regions, while cows are more commonly found in warmer environments.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 犏?

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.