牛 (niú) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 牛 (niú) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 牛 (niú) means "cow / ox / cattle". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 4 strokes and the radical 牛.

Q: How do you write 牛 stroke by stroke?

牛 has 4 strokes. The radical is 牛. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 牛 and 牝?

牛 (niú) and 牝 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 牛?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 牛. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 牛?

Common words containing 牛 include: 牛肉 (niú ròu) — beef; 牛奶 (niú nǎi) — milk; 小牛 (xiǎo niú) — calf.

How to Write 牛

The character 牛 (niú) is written with 4 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 牛 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

牛 is pronounced niú in Mandarin Chinese. It means cow / ox / cattle.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 牛 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 牛

牛肉 niú ròu

beef

牛奶 niú nǎi

milk

小牛 xiǎo niú

calf

Example Sentences

我喜欢吃牛肉。

wǒ xǐ huān chī niú ròu

I like eating beef.

每天喝一杯牛奶。

měi tiān hē yī bēi niú nǎi

Drink a glass of milk every day.

草地上有小牛。

cǎo dì shàng yǒu xiǎo niú

There are calves on the grass.

Similar Characters

牝 pìn

牟 móu

Practice Writing 牛 (niú)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 牛 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 牛

What does 牛 (niú) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 牛 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 牛 and 牝?

What mistakes do learners make writing 牛?

What common words use 牛?

How to Write 牛 (niú)