牯 (gǔ) - bull & ox (specifically a castrated bull)

牯Tone 3

gǔ ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

牯 · gǔ

bull;

ox (specifically a castrated bull);

also refers to cattle in general.

bullox (specifically a castrated bull)also refers to cattle in general.

Usage highlights

bullcastrated bullox cartold oxwater buffaloherd of cattle

Synonyms

  • 牛— cattle; ox; cow (general term)
  • 公牛— bull (male cattle)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The farmer bought a strong bull (牯牛).
  • This is a castrated bull (阉牯).
  • The ox cart (牯车) moved slowly.

Collocations

  • bull(牯牛)
  • castrated bull(阉牯)
  • ox cart(牯车)
  • old ox(老牯)
  • water buffalo(水牯)
  • herd of cattle(牯群)

Idioms

  • As stubborn as an old ox(犟如老牯)
  • Strong and reliable like a bull(力大如牯)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used in agricultural societies to denote working cattle, especially castrated bulls valued for their strength and docility.
  • Common in rural dialects and place names, reflecting the importance of cattle in traditional Chinese farming.

FAQ