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犢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
犢dúcalf; sacrificial lambx, 19 strokes, radical 牛
dú(du2) T2
  1. 1calf; sacrificial lamb
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

犢dú(du2)

The character 犢 (dú) primarily means 'calf,' referring to a young cow. Additionally, it can denote a 'sacrificial lamb,' reflecting its use in certain cultural or religious contexts. This word is commonly used in agriculture or discussions about livestock.

Strokes19Radical牛
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, calves are often associated with agricultural prosperity and are sometimes featured in historical texts about farming practices. Additionally, the use of young animals in sacrifices reflects ancient practices tied to harvest and fertility rituals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a young cow (calf) with a tiny crown, as if it's a prince of the farm. The character 犢 consists of the radical 犬 (dog), symbolizing animals, combined with the component '独' (dú), which sounds like 'duke,' reminding you of the noble status of a young calf.

Meanings of 犢

dú(du2)
1calf; sacrificial lamb
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 犢

犢Simplified
19Strokes
牛Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 犢

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Podcast: 犢

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AI Study Notes for 犢

Quick Contrast

犊 (dú, calf) vs 小牛 (xiǎo niú, young cow) — use 犊 specifically for cultural or sacrificial contexts, while 小牛 is more general.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 犢 (dú) with other animal-related words, as they can sound similar. This term is more formal and might not be used in casual conversations about pets or common animals. Common collocations include phrases related to farming or animal husbandry.

HSK Study Tips

Although 犢 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 3 and 4 words related to animals and farming. Students should focus on recognizing characters related to livestock to build vocabulary in this thematic area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 犢 (dú) with 羊 (yáng), which means 'sheep,' especially when discussing livestock. To clarify, remember that 犢 specifically refers to a young cow, whereas 羊 pertains to sheep.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 犢

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Etymology of 犢

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To sacrifice 賣 a calf 牛

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 犢

  1. 1The giveawayTo sacrifice 賣 a calf 牛
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 犢? 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 犢?

Decomposition of 犢

IDS Structure⿰牛賣
犢Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
賣mai4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 犢?

How to say calf; sacrificial lamb in Chinese

“calf; sacrificial lamb” in Chinese is犢dú

The character 犢 (dú) primarily means 'calf,' referring to a young cow. Additionally, it can denote a 'sacrificial lamb,' reflecting its use in certain cultural or religious contexts. This word is commonly used in agriculture or discussions about livestock.

When to use 犢

Be careful not to confuse 犢 (dú) with other animal-related words, as they can sound similar. This term is more formal and might not be used in casual conversations about pets or common animals. Common collocations include phrases related to farming or animal husbandry.

犢 or something close to it

犊 (dú, calf) vs 小牛 (xiǎo niú, young cow) — use 犊 specifically for cultural or sacrificial contexts, while 小牛 is more general.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 犢 (dú) with 羊 (yáng), which means 'sheep,' especially when discussing livestock. To clarify, remember that 犢 specifically refers to a young cow, whereas 羊 pertains to sheep.

Write 犢

犢

Practice writing 犢 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 犢

Words Containing This Character9
犊dúcalf犢
牛犊calf牛犢
犊子calf犢子
初生牛犊不怕虎fig. the young are fearless初生牛犢不怕虎
护犊子(of a woman) to be fiercely protective of one's children護犢子
舐犊情深lit. the cow licking its calf fondly (idiom)舐犢情深
初生之犊不畏虎fig. the fearlessness of youth初生之犢不畏虎
初生之犊不怕虎fig. the fearlessness of youth初生之犢不怕虎
带牛佩犊to abandon armed struggle and return to raising cattle (idiom)帶牛佩犢
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 犊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 犢

It is pronounced as 'dú'.

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