Definitions
(noun)
sheep; goat
Etymology
Pictograph of the head of a sheep with horns.
About
The character 羊 began as a stylized depiction of a sheep's head, its form capturing the distinctive arch of horns above a simplified face, which has remained largely consistent in its visual identity across centuries. Etymologically, it functioned as a direct representation of the animal, and this core meaning of sheep or goat has been preserved without substantial alteration, acting as a stable semantic anchor in the language. Its structural role extends beyond a standalone logograph, as it frequently serves as a radical or meaning component in many compound characters that derive their sense from associations with sheep, herding, or related attributes. While the primary zoological reference endured, the character accumulated layers of symbolic meaning in cultural and ritual contexts, often denoting auspicious qualities or ceremonial value, yet these connotations supplemented rather than displaced its fundamental lexical purpose.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
羊是一种动物。
这只羊在吃草。
农场里有许多羊。
羊肉很好吃。
牧羊人照顾羊群。
山羊和绵羊不同。
那只小羊跟着母羊。
在草原上，羊群安静地吃草。