牛 Stroke Order — How to Write 牛
牛 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 牛, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
牛 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- niú
Meanings of 牛 in Chinese
1
niú牛
A powerful, horned mammal, often domesticated for labor and its products (meat, milk, hide). Also used metaphorically to describe someone with great ability, as in the idiom '牛刀小试' (niúdāo xiǎoshì), meaning 'to try out one's skills on a small scale'.
这次项目只是他牛刀小试，真正的大挑战还在后面。
This project was just a small demonstration of his capabilities; the real big challenge is yet to come.
The Ox constellation, one of the 28 lunar mansions in traditional Chinese astronomy.
夜空中，牛斗二星闪耀。
In the night sky, the Ox and Dipper constellations shine.
Figuratively describes someone being stubborn, arrogant, or overconfident; often used in expressions like 'niúqì' (showing off, arrogant).
他们公司最近业绩很好，老板说话都带着一股牛气
Their company's performance has been very good recently, and the boss speaks with an air of arrogance.
Used colloquially to describe someone or something as very capable, impressive, awesome, or powerful.
你做的这个模型简直太牛了！
The model you made is simply amazing!
A unit of force, short for Newton (N).
这个物体受到的力是十牛。
The force acting on this object is ten Newtons.
Common Words and Phrases with 牛
1
Niúbàng (牛蒡) refers to great burdock, a biennial herbaceous plant whose roots are eaten as a vegetable and used in traditional medicine for their detoxifying properties.
牛蒡富含膳食纤维和多种维生素，常被用来煲汤或凉拌。
Burdock is rich in dietary fiber and various vitamins, and is often used for making soup or cold dishes.
2
Literally 'ox's nose'; figuratively, the crux of a problem or the key point of a situation; also, a derogatory term for an old Taoist.
要解决这个团队目前面临的困境，我们必须抓住问题的牛鼻子，从根源上入手
To solve the dilemma this team is currently facing, we must grasp the key point of the problem and tackle it from its root.
3
Bull's pizzle
他点了一份牛鞭汤，据说有滋补作用。
He ordered a bull pizzle soup, which is said to have nourishing effects.
4
An ox cart or ox wagon is a heavy vehicle pulled by an ox or oxen.
在一些偏远乡村，人们仍然使用牛车来运输货物。
In some remote villages, people still use ox carts to transport goods.
5
A master hand's first small display of skill, often used to describe someone highly capable tackling a minor task.
新来的设计师刚入职就拿出了几份出色的方案，这只是牛刀小试，以后肯定还有更多惊喜。
The new designer, having just started, has already produced several excellent proposals; this is just a minor display of their skill, and more impressive work is surely on the way.
6
Cowpox is a viral disease primarily affecting cattle, which can be transmitted to humans, providing immunity against smallpox.
历史上，接种牛痘是预防天花的重要手段。
Historically, cowpox vaccination was an important means of preventing smallpox.
7
calf; young ox or cow
春天来了，草地上跑着一群活泼的牛犊。
Spring has arrived, and a group of lively calves are running on the grass.
8
Newton (niú,dùn) refers to Sir Isaac Newton, an influential English physicist and mathematician, and also to the SI unit of force.
牛顿通过观察苹果落地，发现了万有引力定律
Newton discovered the law of universal gravitation by observing an apple fall.
9
A wooden bar or frame fitted over the necks of two draft animals, especially oxen, to harness them together for work, typically with a plow or cart.
农民将牛轭套在水牛的脖子上，准备开始耕地。
The farmer fitted the yoke onto the buffalo's neck, preparing to start plowing.
10
Cow dung, the excrement of cattle.
农民将牛粪收集起来，用作农田的有机肥料。
Farmers collect cow dung to use as organic fertilizer for their fields.
11
Bad elements; literally 'ox-headed devils and snake-bodied spirits,' this term is used metaphorically for various evil people or undesirable individuals.
那本古老的民间传说集里，记载了许多关于山林深处各种牛鬼蛇神的奇闻异事。
That ancient collection of folk tales records many strange and unusual stories about various ox-headed demons and snake-bodied gods deep in the mountains and forests.
12
Bezoar, a calculus found in the digestive organs of cattle and some ruminants, used as medicine or pigment.
牛黄是一种珍贵的中药材，常用于清热解毒和镇静安神。
Bovine bezoar is a precious traditional Chinese medicine, often used for clearing heat, detoxifying, and calming nerves.
13
14
Refers to an insignificant or trivial detail, often used metaphorically in the idiom '钻牛角尖' (to split hairs; to dwell on minor points).
我们不要在这些细枝末节上钻牛角尖，应该把精力放在更重要的事情上。
We shouldn't get bogged down in these minor details or pursue dead ends; we should focus our energy on more important matters.
15
Immense strength or stubbornness.
他工作起来有一股牛劲，从早到晚不知疲倦。
He works with great stamina, tirelessly from morning till night.
More words with 牛
- gēng耕niú牛ox, draft cattle
- mǔ母niú牛cow
- nǎi奶niú牛cow, dairy cow
- wō蜗niú牛snail
- cài菜niú牛beef cattle
- lí犁niú牛Draught ox
- liú瘤niú牛Zebu
- máo牦niú牛Yak
- piān犏niú牛dzo, yak-cow hybrid
- shòu瘦niú牛thin cow, lean cattle
- yān阉niú牛A castrated male bovine.
- qiān牵niú牛to lead an ox, to lead cattle
- dùn炖niú牛ròu肉Beef stew
- yàng鞅niú牛harnessed ox/cattle
- yùn孕niú牛a pregnant cow
- chuī吹dà大niú牛to brag, to boast
- fú伏niú牛shān山Funiu Mountains
- hǎo好chuī吹niú牛fond of bragging or boasting
- niú牛nǎi奶milk
- niú牛yáng羊cattle and sheep, livestock
Idioms with 牛
- niú牛dǐng鼎pēng烹jī鸡use great talent for trivial task
- niú牛gāo高mǎ马dà大tall and strongly built
- niú牛jì骥tóng同cáo槽treat wise and foolish alike
- niú牛láng郎zhī织nǚ女separated lovers who meet infrequently
- niú牛máo毛xì细yǔ雨a fine drizzle
- niú牛pí皮dà大wáng王a big talker who boasts but fails to deliver
- niú牛tóu头mǎ马miàn面hideous enforcers of evil
- biān鞭dǎ打kuài快niú牛Punish the diligent
- chuī吹niú牛pāi拍mǎ马boast and flatter
- duì对niú牛tán弹qín琴address an unappreciative audience
- duō多rú如niú牛máo毛extremely numerous
- hàn汗niú牛chōng充dòng栋an immense collection of books
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Open the tool →Questions about 牛
What does 牛 mean in Chinese?
牛 (niú) means “A powerful” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 牛?
牛 is pronounced niú in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 牛 have?
牛 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 牛?
牛 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 牛. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 牛?
The radical of 牛 is 牛, and 牛 is a pictograph.