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奶牛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
奶牛nǎiniúmilk cowHSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, rank #8770, Hard
奶牛nǎiniúdairy cowHSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, rank #8770, Hard
nǎiniú(nai3niu2)nai niu T3
  1. 1milk cow
  2. 2dairy cow
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March 24, 2026

奶牛nǎiniú(nai3niu2)

奶牛 (nǎi niú) refers to a dairy cow, specifically one that is raised for milk production. This term is commonly used in agricultural contexts and discussions about livestock and dairy farming, highlighting the importance of cows in producing milk for human consumption.

Strokes9Frequency#8770DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, dairy cows are increasingly important as milk consumption rises, especially in urban areas. The term 奶牛 is often associated with modern farming practices and the growing dairy industry in China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cow (牛) happily standing under a tree (奶) with a bucket of fresh milk nearby. The '奶' (nǎi) looks like a cow drinking milk, and the sound 'nǎi' reminds you of the word 'nurture', as these cows nurture us by providing milk.

Meanings of 奶牛

nǎiniú(nai3niu2)
1milk cow
2dairy cow
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About 奶牛

奶牛Simplified
9Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 奶牛

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Podcast: 奶牛

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AI Study Notes for 奶牛

Quick Contrast

牛 (niú) vs 奶牛 (nǎiniú) — use 奶牛 when specifically referring to dairy cows raised for milk production, while 牛 is a general term for cows.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 奶牛 with just 牛 (niú), which means 'cow' without specifying its dairy purpose. It is typically used informally, but can also appear in formal agricultural discussions. Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing either can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

This word is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, but it combines two common characters that learners encounter: 奶 (milk) and 牛 (cow). Focus on the tones and pronunciation, as they are critical for clear communication.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to pronounce 奶牛 with the wrong tones, such as 'nài niú' instead of 'nǎi niú'. Additionally, some learners might confuse it with words like 乳牛 (rǔ niú), which also means dairy cow but emphasizes milk production more explicitly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 奶牛

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Component Characters

奶nǎibreast
HSK 15 strokes女
View full entry
牛niúox
HSK 34 strokes牛
View full entry

How to say milk cow in Chinese

“milk cow” in Chinese is奶牛nǎiniú

奶牛 (nǎi niú) refers to a dairy cow, specifically one that is raised for milk production. This term is commonly used in agricultural contexts and discussions about livestock and dairy farming, highlighting the importance of cows in producing milk for human consumption.

When to use 奶牛

Learners often confuse 奶牛 with just 牛 (niú), which means 'cow' without specifying its dairy purpose. It is typically used informally, but can also appear in formal agricultural discussions. Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing either can lead to confusion.

奶牛 or something close to it

牛 (niú) vs 奶牛 (nǎiniú) — use 奶牛 when specifically referring to dairy cows raised for milk production, while 牛 is a general term for cows.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is to pronounce 奶牛 with the wrong tones, such as 'nài niú' instead of 'nǎi niú'. Additionally, some learners might confuse it with words like 乳牛 (rǔ niú), which also means dairy cow but emphasizes milk production more explicitly.

Write 奶牛

奶
牛

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 奶牛

奶牛 specifically refers to a dairy cow, while 牛 is a general term for cow or cattle.

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