About
The character 牡 is a phono-semantic compound used to denote the male sex of animals. Its left component, the semantic radical 牛 (ox), associates it with livestock and mammals. The right component, 土 (earth or soil), serves as a phonetic indicator for pronunciation. Originally meaning a male animal, often a bull, its usage extends broadly to male creatures, contrasting with terms for females. It also forms the first part of the compound word for the peony flower, a meaning that developed separately from its zoological sense.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这朵牡丹很美丽。
我喜欢红色的牡丹。
花园里种了许多牡丹。
牡蛎是一种海鲜。
他点了烤牡蛎作为前菜。
牡马在草原上奔跑。
牡丹花的香气令人愉悦。
这家餐厅的蒜蓉牡蛎很有名。