羊

yáng

䒑 + 丨 + 二

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

yáng (noun) sheep; goat

Etymology

Pictograph of the head of a sheep with horns.

About

羊 is a pictograph of the head of a sheep with horns. The two strokes at the top represent the curved horns, while the horizontal and vertical strokes below outline the face and ears. It means sheep or goat, and by extension similar cloven-hoofed animals. The character also serves as a radical in others related to herding, livestock, or qualities culturally associated with sheep, such as auspiciousness and beauty.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

羊是一种动物。

Yáng shì yī zhǒng dòngwù.

Sheep are a type of animal.

这只羊在吃草。

Zhè zhī yáng zài chī cǎo.

This sheep is eating grass.

农场里有许多羊。

Nóngchǎng lǐ yǒu xǔduō yáng.

There are many sheep on the farm.

羊肉很好吃。

Yángròu hěn hǎochī.

Mutton is delicious.

牧羊人照顾羊群。

Mùyángrén zhàogù yángqún.

The shepherd takes care of the flock.

山羊和绵羊不同。

Shānyáng hé miányáng bùtóng.

Goats and sheep are different.

那只小羊跟着母羊。

Nà zhī xiǎo yáng gēnzhe mǔ yáng.

That lamb is following its mother.

在草原上，羊群安静地吃草。

Zài cǎoyuán shàng, yángqún ānjìng de chī cǎo.

On the grassland, the flock of sheep eats grass quietly.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 䒑

Component: 丨

Component: 二

羊