羝 (dī) - ram — specifically a male sheep or goat & often used in classical Chinese texts.

羝Tone 1

dī ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

羝 · dī

ram — specifically a male sheep or goat;

often used in classical Chinese texts.

ram — specifically a male sheep or goatoften used in classical Chinese texts.

Usage highlights

male sheepram's hornsacrificial ramherd of ramsram enclosureram fighting

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The shepherd tended to the rams (羝羊).
  • In ancient rituals, a ram was sometimes sacrificed (羝祭).
  • The flock included several rams (公羝).

Collocations

  • male sheep(羝羊)
  • ram's horn(羝角)
  • sacrificial ram(祭羝)
  • herd of rams(羝群)
  • ram enclosure(羝栏)
  • ram fighting(斗羝)

Idioms

  • Like a ram butting a fence — acting recklessly(羝羊触藩)
  • The ram's dilemma — being in a difficult situation(羝羊之困)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical Chinese texts, especially in reference to animal husbandry and sacrifices.
  • Used in the idiom '羝羊触藩' from the I Ching, symbolizing being trapped in a difficult situation.
  • Historically associated with pastoral nomadic cultures in northern China.

FAQ