犢 (dú) - calf — refers to a young cow or & by extension, something young or inexperienced.

犢Tone 2

dú ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

犢 · dú

calf — refers to a young cow or ox;

by extension, something young or inexperienced.

calf — refers to a young cow orby extension, something young or inexperienced.

Usage highlights

calfyoung oxnewborn calfcalfskincalf penmother cow protecting her calf

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 老牛— old ox (antonym in terms of age)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The farmer raised several calves (牛犢).
  • He was as stubborn as a young ox (犢子).
  • The mother cow protects her calf (母牛護犢).
  • This idiom refers to a newborn calf (初生之犢).

Collocations

  • calf(牛犢)
  • young ox(犢子)
  • newborn calf(初生之犢)
  • calfskin(犢皮)
  • calf pen(犢舍)
  • mother cow protecting her calf(護犢)

Idioms

  • Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers(初生之犢不畏虎)
  • Loving one's calf(舐犢情深)
  • Holding a calf to pray for blessings(犢牛祈福)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, calves symbolize youth, inexperience, and sometimes courage born of ignorance.
  • The character appears in sacrificial contexts, as calves were sometimes used in ancient rituals.
  • The mother-calf relationship is used metaphorically for parental love and protection in Chinese literature.

FAQ