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牝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
牝pìnfemale animal; keyhole; valleyn, 6 strokes, radical 牛, rank #85314, Very Hard
牝pìn(of a bird, animal or plant) femaleunknown, 6 strokes, radical 牛, rank #85314, Very Hard
pìn(pin4)pin T4
  1. 1female animal; keyhole; valley
  2. 2(of a bird, animal or plant) female
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March 24, 2026

牝pìn(pin4)

The character 牝 (pìn) refers primarily to a female animal, particularly in the context of livestock or domesticated species. It can also denote a keyhole or a valley, reflecting its use in specific contexts related to geography or mechanics. This character is often encountered in more specialized discussions regarding animals or in literary contexts.

Strokes6Radical牛Frequency#85314DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, distinguishing between male and female animals is crucial for breeding practices, which is why terms like 牝 have specific significance. This reflects the importance of livestock in rural Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a female horse (for '牝' meaning female animal) standing at the entrance of a valley, gazing into a keyhole that reveals a hidden paradise. The character '牝' has the radical for 'animal' (犭) on the left, which helps you remember its connection to animals.

Meanings of 牝

pìn(pin4)
1female animal; keyhole; valley
2(of a bird, animal or plant) female
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 牝

牝Simplified
6Strokes
牛Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 牝

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Podcast: 牝

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AI Study Notes for 牝

Usage Notes

While '牝' is an important term in specific contexts, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with '公' (gōng), which means male, especially in discussions about animals. It's more likely to appear in formal writings or veterinary contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 牝 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of animal-related terms, especially those that differentiate between genders. Focus on memorizing the radicals and components to better grasp its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 牝 with 牦 (máo), which refers to a specific type of yak. Remember that 牝 is specifically about female animals, while 牦 relates to a specific breed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 牝

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Etymology of 牝

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

cow

Semantic (meaning)牛
+
Phonetic (sound)匕
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

牝 = 牛 + 匕. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 牝

IDS Structure⿰牛匕
牝Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
匕bi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 牝?

How to say female animal; keyhole; valley in Chinese

“female animal; keyhole; valley” in Chinese is牝pìn

The character 牝 (pìn) refers primarily to a female animal, particularly in the context of livestock or domesticated species. It can also denote a keyhole or a valley, reflecting its use in specific contexts related to geography or mechanics. This character is often encountered in more specialized discussions regarding animals or in literary contexts.

When to use 牝

While '牝' is an important term in specific contexts, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with '公' (gōng), which means male, especially in discussions about animals. It's more likely to appear in formal writings or veterinary contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 牝 with 牦 (máo), which refers to a specific type of yak. Remember that 牝 is specifically about female animals, while 牦 relates to a specific breed.

Write 牝

牝

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

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Word Family of 牝

Words Containing This Character2
牝pìnkeyhole
牝鸡司晨women meddle in politics牝雞司晨
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 牝

What does 牝鸡司晨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 牝

Commonly, you'll find it used in terms related to livestock and animal husbandry, but it’s not as frequently seen in everyday vocabulary.

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