How to Write 牛 (niú)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 牛
The character 牛 (Traditional: 牛) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Cow / Ox / Cattle". In our Level 1 curriculum, we focus on the 4-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.
Writing & Recognition
Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Animals, Plants & Food, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 牛 is built on the radical 牛 (70). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
A pictograph of the head of a bull showing the horns and ears.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 这头牛在草地上吃草。
zhè tóu niú zài cǎodì shàng chī cǎo.
Traditional: 這頭牛在草地上吃草。
ze2 tau4 ngau4 zoi6 cou2 dei6 soeng6 sik6 cou2.
"The cow is eating grass in the meadow."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as niú. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is ngau4. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.
Practice & Retention
To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.
Quick Self-Check
What is the meaning of '牛'?
Other Characters in Level 1 Unit 6
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
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