About
牿 is a phono-semantic compound that combines the semantic radical 牛, meaning 'ox' or 'cow,' with the phonetic component 告 (gào). Its primary sense refers to a wooden pen or a type of hobble for confining cattle and other livestock. This meaning later broadened to denote the act of restraining or confining both animals and people. The phonetic 告 provides the sound, though the modern pronunciation has shifted to gù. The left-right structure, with the ox radical on the left and the phonetic on the right, follows a common pattern for livestock-related nouns.
Etymology Hide
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.