unknown, 7 strokes, radical 牛, rank #30075, Very Hard
牡
mǔ
hills
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 牛, rank #30075, Very Hard
mǔ(mu3) T3
1male animal; key, door bolt
2(of a bird, animal or plant) male
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
牡mǔ(mu3)
The character 牡 (mǔ) primarily signifies 'male' in the context of animals, often used in zoological terms. It can also refer to keys or bolts, symbolizing something that secures or closes. This character is frequently encountered in discussions about gender in animals, notably in agriculture and biology.
Strokes7Radical牛Frequency#30075DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 牡丹 (mǔ dān), or peony, is considered a symbol of wealth and prosperity, often associated with masculinity and honor. This reflects the traditional view of the peony as a 'male flower' representing strength.
Memory Tip
Think of a strong, sturdy bull (the male of the cattle) to remember 牡 (mǔ), which represents male animals. The character resembles a door bolt, reinforcing the idea of something strong and secure, much like a male animal's role in nature.
Meanings of 牡
mǔ(mu3)
1male animal; key, door bolt
2(of a bird, animal or plant) male
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 牡
牡Simplified
7Strokes
牛Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 牡
Podcast: 牡
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 牡
Quick Contrast
公 (gōng) - use 牡 (mǔ) specifically for zoological terms, while 公 (gōng) can refer to male in a broader context.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 牡 with 母 (mǔ), which means 'female.' This character is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as biology or agriculture. Common collocations include 牡牛 (mǔ niú, male cow) and 牡丹 (mǔ dān, peony, which is seen as a 'male flower').
HSK Study Tips
While 牡 is not on the HSK list, understanding it can enhance vocabulary related to gender in animals. Focus on associating 牡 with related terms like 母 to distinguish between male and female in a biological context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 牡 as 母 due to their similar pronunciation and structure. For instance, using 母牛 (mǔ niú) instead of 牡牛 (mǔ niú) to refer to a male cow is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 牡
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 牡 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 土 represents the sound.
1The meaning half牛 carries the sense.
2The sound half土 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayox
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 牡? 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 牡?
Decomposition of 牡
IDS Structure⿰牛土
牡Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
土Tu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 牡?
How to say male animal; key, door bolt in Chinese
“male animal; key, door bolt” in Chinese is牡mǔ
The character 牡 (mǔ) primarily signifies 'male' in the context of animals, often used in zoological terms. It can also refer to keys or bolts, symbolizing something that secures or closes. This character is frequently encountered in discussions about gender in animals, notably in agriculture and biology.
When to use 牡
Be cautious not to confuse 牡 with 母 (mǔ), which means 'female.' This character is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as biology or agriculture. Common collocations include 牡牛 (mǔ niú, male cow) and 牡丹 (mǔ dān, peony, which is seen as a 'male flower').
牡 or something close to it
公 (gōng) - use 牡 (mǔ) specifically for zoological terms, while 公 (gōng) can refer to male in a broader context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly write 牡 as 母 due to their similar pronunciation and structure. For instance, using 母牛 (mǔ niú) instead of 牡牛 (mǔ niú) to refer to a male cow is incorrect.
Write 牡
牡
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 牡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 牡
牡 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
渔民们害怕宝贵的____蛎和贻贝层会被破坏。
Fishermen fear valuable oyster and mussel beds could be decimated.
Example Sentences for 牡 (5)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
渔民们害怕宝贵的牡蛎和贻贝层会被破坏。
yú mín mén hài pà bǎo guì de mǔ lì hé yí bèi céng huì bèi pò huài。
Fishermen fear valuable oyster and mussel beds could be decimated.
2
牡丹花不宜挪移，最好别去动它。
mǔ dān huā bù yí nuó yí， ， zuì hǎo bié qù dòng。
Peonies react badly to being moved and are best left undisturbed.
