How to Write 鹿 (lù) — Meaning “Deer”

Imagine a deer with large antlers shaped like the roof radical 广, and below it, a pair of legs (比) running through a forest. You can think of the top as antlers and the bottom as the deer's body and legs. Visualize the word "deer" with antlers pointing upward to match 鹿.

Start with the top radical 广 (dot, then horizontal stroke with a left-falling tail). Inside, write 比 carefully: first the left part (horizontal, vertical, left-falling, dot) then the right part (horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling). Common mistake: making the bottom too wide or forgetting the small hook at the end of the left-falling stroke in 广.

Both mean deer, but 鹿 is a general term for deer, while 麂 refers specifically to a type of small deer called muntjac. Visually, 麂 contains 鹿 on top plus 几 (jǐ, small table) underneath, indicating a specific subspecies. In writing, 麂 has an extra component below 鹿, making it slightly more complex.

鹿 appears in words like 小鹿 (fawn), 梅花鹿 (sika deer), and 鹿角 (antlers). Culturally, deer symbolize longevity, beauty, and good fortune in Chinese tradition, and the character is often seen in art and idioms like 鹿死谁手 (who will win the deer, meaning who will be the victor). It is also part of brand names and nature-related vocabulary.

Common words containing 鹿 include: 小鹿 (xiǎo lù) — Fawn; 梅花鹿 (méi huā lù) — Sika deer; 鹿角 (lù jiǎo) — Deer antlers.