牛

Niu2
#1,016 most
frequent character
surname Niu

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

牛 is a picture of the front of a bull's head, so it first meant 'cow, bull.' It grew to ox or cattle, then to strong, and to adept. The 'boast, brag' sense was borrowed for its sound, as in 吹牛 chuīniú.

Drawn as: front of bull's head

牛 as a component in other characters

meaning19 characters
件牺牟犁犟犄犒牝牯犍荦牾犋犏牿犪
picture7 characters
解牵牢犀犊牦犂

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