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牸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
牸zìfemale animal; to give birthzg, 10 strokes, radical 牛
牸zìfemale of domestic animalsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 牛
zì(zi4)zi T4
  1. 1female animal; to give birth
  2. 2female of domestic animals
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March 24, 2026

牸zì(zi4)

The character 牸 (zì) specifically refers to a female animal, particularly in the context of domesticated livestock. It can also imply the act of giving birth, relating to the reproductive aspect of female animals. This term is less commonly used in everyday language, often appearing in agricultural or zoological contexts.

Strokes10Radical牛
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese farming, understanding the gender of livestock is crucial for breeding and agricultural practices, making terms like 牸 important in rural life and economic activities.

Memory Tip

Think of 牸 (zì) as a 'zoo' filled with female animals. The radical 牜 (animal) hints at its meaning, while the 'zi' sound can remind you of a 'sister' who gives birth to young ones, emphasizing the female aspect.

Meanings of 牸

zì(zi4)
1female animal; to give birth
2female of domestic animals
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 牸

牸Simplified
10Strokes
牛Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 牸

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Podcast: 牸

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AI Study Notes for 牸

Usage Notes

While 牸 is specific to female animals, learners might confuse it with generic terms for animals. It is more common in formal or technical discussions rather than casual conversations. Pay attention to the tone; it's pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone).

HSK Study Tips

Since 牸 is not on the HSK list, it may be more relevant for those studying veterinary terms or agricultural vocabulary. Focus on related vocabulary such as 母 (mǔ, female) and 公 (gōng, male) to understand gender distinctions in animals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 牸 with 母 (mǔ), which also means female but is broader and more commonly used. For example, saying '牸牛' (zì niú) is incorrect; instead, use '母牛' (mǔ niú) for 'female cow.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 牸

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Etymology of 牸

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

cow

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

Origin

牸 = 牛 + 字. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 牸

IDS Structure⿰牛字
牸Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
字zi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 牸?

How to say female animal; to give birth in Chinese

“female animal; to give birth” in Chinese is牸zì

The character 牸 (zì) specifically refers to a female animal, particularly in the context of domesticated livestock. It can also imply the act of giving birth, relating to the reproductive aspect of female animals. This term is less commonly used in everyday language, often appearing in agricultural or zoological contexts.

When to use 牸

While 牸 is specific to female animals, learners might confuse it with generic terms for animals. It is more common in formal or technical discussions rather than casual conversations. Pay attention to the tone; it's pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 牸 with 母 (mǔ), which also means female but is broader and more commonly used. For example, saying '牸牛' (zì niú) is incorrect; instead, use '母牛' (mǔ niú) for 'female cow.'

Write 牸

牸

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

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Word Family of 牸

Words Containing This Character1
牸zìfemale of domestic animals

Frequently Asked Questions about 牸

No, it is primarily used in specific contexts like agriculture and veterinary science.

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