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牦 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-side radical 牛 (cow) indicates the animal category, while the right component 毛 (hair) provides both phonetic guidance and a semantic hint, reflecting the yak's defining feature. Its traditional form, 犛, has a more complex phonetic element above the same bovine radical. The character refers specifically to the yak, a robust, long-haired bovine native to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. The inclusion of 毛 directly references its dense, shaggy coat, an adaptation for survival in harsh, high-altitude climates.
Etymology Hide
