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March 24, 2026
犢dú(du2)
The character 犢 (dú) primarily means 'calf,' referring to a young cow. Additionally, it can denote a 'sacrificial lamb,' reflecting its use in certain cultural or religious contexts. This word is commonly used in agriculture or discussions about livestock.
Strokes19Radical牛Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, calves are often associated with agricultural prosperity and are sometimes featured in historical texts about farming practices. Additionally, the use of young animals in sacrifices reflects ancient practices tied to harvest and fertility rituals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a young cow (calf) with a tiny crown, as if it's a prince of the farm. The character 犢 consists of the radical 犬 (dog), symbolizing animals, combined with the component '独' (dú), which sounds like 'duke,' reminding you of the noble status of a young calf.
Meanings of 犢
dú(du2)
1calf; sacrificial lamb
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 犢
犢Simplified
19Strokes
牛Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 犢
Podcast: 犢
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AI Study Notes for 犢
Quick Contrast
犊 (dú, calf) vs 小牛 (xiǎo niú, young cow) — use 犊 specifically for cultural or sacrificial contexts, while 小牛 is more general.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a young cow (calf) with a tiny crown, as if it's a prince of the farm. The character 犢 consists of the radical 犬 (dog), symbolizing animals, combined with the component '独' (dú), which sounds like 'duke,' reminding you of the noble status of a young calf.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 犢 (dú) with other animal-related words, as they can sound similar. This term is more formal and might not be used in casual conversations about pets or common animals. Common collocations include phrases related to farming or animal husbandry.
HSK Study Tips
Although 犢 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 3 and 4 words related to animals and farming. Students should focus on recognizing characters related to livestock to build vocabulary in this thematic area.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, calves are often associated with agricultural prosperity and are sometimes featured in historical texts about farming practices. Additionally, the use of young animals in sacrifices reflects ancient practices tied to harvest and fertility rituals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 犢 (dú) with 羊 (yáng), which means 'sheep,' especially when discussing livestock. To clarify, remember that 犢 specifically refers to a young cow, whereas 羊 pertains to sheep.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 犢
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Cultural Notes for 犢
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, calves are often associated with agricultural prosperity and are sometimes featured in historical texts about farming practices. Additionally, the use of young animals in sacrifices reflects ancient practices tied to harvest and fertility rituals.
Word Family of 犢
Words Containing This Character9
犊dúcalf犢
牛犊calf牛犢
犊子calf犢子
初生牛犊不怕虎fig. the young are fearless初生牛犢不怕虎
护犊子(of a woman) to be fiercely protective of one's children護犢子
舐犊情深lit. the cow licking its calf fondly (idiom)舐犢情深
初生之犊不畏虎fig. the fearlessness of youth初生之犢不畏虎
初生之犊不怕虎fig. the fearlessness of youth初生之犢不怕虎
带牛佩犊to abandon armed struggle and return to raising cattle (idiom)帶牛佩犢
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 犊 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 犢
It is pronounced as 'dú'.
It's more common in formal contexts, especially when discussing agriculture.
While 犢 specifically refers to a calf, other characters may refer to different animals or young animals.
