羔 (gāo) - Lamb — a young sheep & also refers to sacrificial offerings in ancient rituals

羔Tone 1

gāo ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical: 羊

枫惠

羔 · gāo

Lamb — a young sheep;

also refers to sacrificial offerings in ancient rituals;

used metaphorically for innocence, purity, or vulnerability.

Lamb — a young sheepalso refers to sacrificial offerings in ancient ritualsused metaphorically for innocence, purity, or vulnerability.

Usage highlights

LambLamb meatLamb skinLamb sacrificeInnocent lambLost lamb

Synonyms

  • 羊— sheep or goat (general term)
  • 羔羊— lamb (specific term)

Antonyms

  • 狼— wolf (predator, opposite of prey)
  • 虎— tiger (ferocious, opposite of gentle)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The shepherd tends to the lambs (羔羊).
  • Roasted lamb is a delicacy (烤羔羊).
  • In ancient times, lambs were used as sacrifices (牺牲羔羊).
  • He is as innocent as a lamb (像羔羊一样无辜).

Collocations

  • Lamb(羔羊)
  • Lamb meat(羔羊肉)
  • Lamb skin(羔皮)
  • Lamb sacrifice(羔祭)
  • Innocent lamb(无辜的羔羊)
  • Lost lamb(迷途的羔羊)

Idioms

  • To lead a lamb to the slaughter(牵羔就屠)
  • As gentle as a lamb(温顺如羔)
  • A lamb among wolves(狼群中的羔羊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese rituals, lambs were used as sacrificial offerings to deities or ancestors.
  • The character often symbolizes innocence, gentleness, and vulnerability in literature and idioms.
  • It appears in classical texts like the Book of Songs (《诗经》) as a metaphor for purity and sacrifice.

FAQ