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牿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
牿gùcattle shedx, 11 strokes, radical 牛
牿gùshed or pen for cattleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 牛
gù(gu4)gu T4
  1. 1cattle shed
  2. 2shed or pen for cattle
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March 24, 2026

牿gù(gu4)

The character 牿 (gù) refers to a cattle shed or a pen where cattle are kept. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts and is particularly relevant in discussions about farming, livestock management, or rural life in China.

Strokes11Radical牛
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, the cattle shed is crucial for the care and management of livestock, reflecting the importance of cattle in farming practices and cultural heritage. This character embodies a part of rural life that is less common in modern urban contexts.

Memory tip

Imagine a large, sturdy structure where cows are sheltered. The character 牿 resembles a roof (亠) over a cow (牛), symbolizing protection and home for the cattle. You can think of ‘gù’ as the sound of a cow mooing, reminding you of its purpose.

Meanings of 牿

gù(gu4)
1cattle shed
2shed or pen for cattle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 牿 means.

About 牿

牿Simplified
11Strokes
牛Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 牿

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Podcast: 牿

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AI Study Notes for 牿

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in rural or agricultural contexts, so it may not be familiar in urban settings. Be careful not to confuse 牿 (gù) with other similar-sounding words, and remember that it is a more formal term. It often collocates with words like '养' (raise) or '圈' (pen).

HSK Study Tips

Although 牿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 3 words related to animals and farming, such as 牛 (niú, cow) and 养 (yǎng, to raise). Focus on the radicals and components in this character to better understand its meaning and usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 牿 with other characters that have similar sounds or meanings, such as 圈 (quān, pen). Ensure you practice distinguishing between these terms to avoid mix-ups.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 牿

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Etymology of 牿

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

ox

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

Origin

牿 = 牛 + 告. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 牿

IDS Structure⿰牛告
牿Full character
=
牛Niu2
left
告gao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 牿?

How to say cattle shed in Chinese

“cattle shed” in Chinese is牿gù

The character 牿 (gù) refers to a cattle shed or a pen where cattle are kept. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts and is particularly relevant in discussions about farming, livestock management, or rural life in China.

When to use 牿

This term is primarily used in rural or agricultural contexts, so it may not be familiar in urban settings. Be careful not to confuse 牿 (gù) with other similar-sounding words, and remember that it is a more formal term. It often collocates with words like '养' (raise) or '圈' (pen).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 牿 with other characters that have similar sounds or meanings, such as 圈 (quān, pen). Ensure you practice distinguishing between these terms to avoid mix-ups.

Write 牿

牿

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

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Word Family of 牿

Words containing this character1
牿gùshed or pen for cattle

Frequently Asked Questions about 牿

No, it is more specialized and might not be known by those who do not have a background in agriculture.

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