niú

ox, cow, bull

HSK 3 4
Stroke order animation for 牛

この漢字を含む単語

Basic Meaning

The character primarily means 'ox', 'cow', or 'bull'. It refers to the animal commonly used in farming and agriculture.

Colloquial Use

In modern slang, especially among young people, (niú) can mean 'awesome' or 'impressive'. For example, 打篮球 means 'He plays basketball really well'. This usage is informal and often used to praise someone's skill.

Cultural Context

is also important in Chinese culture as one of the twelve zodiac animals. The (Year of the Ox) appears in the Chinese lunar calendar and is associated with traits like diligence and reliability.

Common Collocations

  • (yǎng niú): to raise cattle
  • (niú ròu): beef
  • 牛仔裤 (niú zǎi kù): jeans (literally 'cowboy pants')
  • (niú nián): Year of the Ox

Usage Tips

When used to mean 'awesome', is often placed after a verb phrase to emphasize skill or quality. Avoid confusing this slang use with the literal animal meaning in formal contexts.

例文

这头牛在田里吃草。

Zhè tóu niú zài tián lǐ chī cǎo.

This cow is grazing in the field.

他打篮球打得很牛。

Tā dǎ lánqiú dǎ de hěn niú.

He plays basketball really well (awesome).

牛年是中国十二生肖之一。

Niú nián shì Zhōngguó shí'èr shēngxiào zhī yī.

The Year of the Ox is one of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs.