How to Write 牦 (máo) — Meaning “yak”

Imagine a yak with very thick, fluffy fur. The left side 牛 reminds you it is a kind of cow, and the right side 毛 looks like strands of hair — so 牦 is the "hairy cow" or yak.

Write the left radical 牛 with four strokes (the vertical stroke should be straight), then add the right part 毛 with four strokes — do not connect them. A common mistake is making the right side too narrow; give 毛 enough space so the horizontal strokes extend clearly.

牦 (yak) has 毛 (hair) on the right, 牝 (female animal) has 匕 (spoon) instead, and 牟 (to seek/profit) places 厶 (private) on top of 牛. Visually, 牦 is the only one with a clear "hair" shape on its right side.

牦 appears mostly in the word 牦牛 (máo niú, yak), which is common in texts about the Tibetan Plateau. Yaks are vital to Tibetan culture for milk, meat, and wool, so you may also see 牦牛奶 (yak milk) and 牦牛毛 (yak hair) in travel or food contexts.

Common words containing 牦 include: 牦牛 (máo niú) — yak; 牦牛奶 (máo niú nǎi) — yak milk; 牦牛毛 (máo niú máo) — yak hair.