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羝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
ram, he-goatg, 11 strokes, radical 羊, Very Hard
billy goatunknown, 11 strokes, radical 羊, Very Hard
(di1) T1
  1. 1ram, he-goat
  2. 2billy goat
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(di1)

The character 羝 (dī) refers to a ram or male goat, particularly a billy goat. It is often used in literary contexts or discussions related to livestock and farming, emphasizing its significance in Chinese culture as a symbol of strength and vitality.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, goats are often associated with prosperity and auspiciousness, particularly during the Lunar New Year celebrations. The ram, as a strong and resilient animal, symbolizes good fortune and is considered a favorable sign in various traditions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a muscular ram standing proudly on a hill, its horns curving like the character 羝. The '羊' radical at the bottom resembles a sheep, while the '低' component suggests it is low to the ground, emphasizing its strength as it grazes.

Meanings of 羝

(di1)
1ram, he-goat
2billy goat
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 羝

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 羝

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 羝

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a muscular ram standing proudly on a hill, its horns curving like the character 羝. The '羊' radical at the bottom resembles a sheep, while the '低' component suggests it is low to the ground, emphasizing its strength as it grazes.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 羝 with similar characters like 羊 (yáng), which means sheep in general. It's used more in formal or literary contexts, so it's important to know when to use it appropriately. Be cautious of the fourth tone, as mispronunciation can alter understanding.

HSK Study Tips

Although 羝 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, learners should note that it relates to 羊 (yáng) at HSK Level 1. Students should focus on differentiating between this character and other characters related to livestock and ensure familiarity with the radicals involved.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, goats are often associated with prosperity and auspiciousness, particularly during the Lunar New Year celebrations. The ram, as a strong and resilient animal, symbolizes good fortune and is considered a favorable sign in various traditions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 羝 with 羊, using them interchangeably in sentences. For example, saying '我养了三只羝' (I raise three rams) instead of '我养了三只羊' (I raise three sheep) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 羝

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Etymology of 羝

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

sheep

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 羝?

Decomposition of 羝

IDS Structure⿰羊氐
Full Character
=
Yang2
left
Di1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 羝?

Write 羝

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

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Cultural Notes for 羝

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, goats are often associated with prosperity and auspiciousness, particularly during the Lunar New Year celebrations. The ram, as a strong and resilient animal, symbolizes good fortune and is considered a favorable sign in various traditions.

Word Family of 羝

Words Containing This Character2
ram
羝羊触藩trapped羝羊觸藩
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 羝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 羝

羝 specifically refers to a male goat or ram, while 羊 is a general term for sheep and can refer to both male and female.