Hanzi
CharactersIdiomsChinese ZodiacChinese Name
Tools
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorRender Chinese text as a downloadable image
  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
View all tools →
Blogs
放牛归马
放牛归马
放牛归马
放牛归马
放牛归马
放牛归马
放牛归马
放牛归马

放牛归马 — “To send the war-horses and oxen back to pasture”

放牛归马 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to send the war-horses and oxen back to pasture”. To cease fighting and return to peaceful pursuits; to put an end to war and cultivate civilian life. Literally, “release the cattle and return the horses”.

Frequency

放牛归马 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 放fàng
  • 牛niú
  • 归guī
  • 马mǎ

放牛归马 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
放
fàng8release, let go, put
牛
niú4Ox, awesome, or stubborn
归
guī5return, go back, belong to
马
mǎ3horse, big, large

Example Sentence with 放牛归马

战争结束后,大家都期盼能够放牛归马,过上平静安定的生活。
After the war, everyone hoped to cease military operations and lead a peaceful and stable life.

Origin and Story of 放牛归马

In the late Shang Dynasty, King Zhou of Shang was notoriously dissolute, causing widespread resentment among the people. King Wu of Zhou led his grand army to surround the Shang capital.

King Zhou of Shang ascended the Lutai Terrace and set himself on fire, committing suicide.

King Wu established the Zhou Dynasty, making Haojing its capital. He sent the soldiers home to engage in agricultural production, returned all the requisitioned cattle and horses, and enabled all the people across the land to live in peace and contentment.

Idioms Related to 放牛归马

Synonyms of 放牛归马

  • yǎn偃wǔ武xiū修wén文Cease military affairs and promote culture

More idioms starting with 放

  • fàng放xia下bāo包fu袱Let go of a mental burden
  • fàng放xià下tú屠dāo刀repent and mend one's ways
  • fàng放xià下tú屠dāo刀,,lì立biàn便chéng成fó佛Repent and reform to achieve redemption
  • fàng放xià下tú屠dāo刀,,lì立dì地chéng成fó佛Repent and achieve instant redemption
  • fàng放zhī之sì四hǎi海ér而jiē皆zhǔn准universally applicable
  • fàng放rèn任zì自liú流let things drift without interference
  • fàng放pì僻yín淫yì佚indulge in depravity and debauchery
  • fàng放pì僻xié邪chǐ侈indulge in perverse, evil, and extravagant acts
  • fàng放lěng冷jiàn箭stab someone in the back
  • fàng放diāo刁bǎ把làn滥act unscrupulously and extort
  • fàng放diāo刁sā撒pō泼act like a rogue or shrew
  • fàng放pì屁tiān添fēng风egg on, make a situation worse

Questions about 放牛归马

What does 放牛归马 mean?
放牛归马 (fàng niú guī mǎ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to send the war-horses and oxen back to pasture”.
How do you pronounce 放牛归马?
放牛归马 is pronounced fàng niú guī mǎ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 放牛归马 literally mean?
Literally, 放牛归马 means “release the cattle and return the horses”. It is used to mean “to send the war-horses and oxen back to pasture”.
Where does 放牛归马 come from?
放牛归马 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 放牛归马?
把作战用的牛马牧放。比喻战争结束,不再用兵。
Copy the pinyin for 放牛归马 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

© 2026 hanzi.now

Contact Us