牛
cow
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of cow's head and horns.
Symbolism
Cow, agriculture, patience. Symbol of diligence and strength in Japan.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Cow grazing
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
九牛一毛
きゅうぎゅうのいちもう
small fraction (of); drop in the bucket; drop in the ocean; small fraction (of)
牛飲馬食
ぎゅういんばしょく
heavy eating and drinking; gorging and swilling; drinking like a cow and eating like a horse; heavy eating and drinking
汗牛充棟
かんぎゅうじゅうとう
(having, there being) a great number of books; (having, there being) a great number of books
鶏口牛後
けいこうぎゅうご
better to be the beak of a rooster than the rump of a bull; better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a large organization; better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond; better to be the beak of a rooster than the rump of a bull
蝸牛角上
かぎゅうかくじょう
trifling (fight); (a conflict) between small countries; trifling (fight)
牛鬼蛇神
ぎゅうきだしん
wicked and perverse; weird and incoherent; wicked and perverse
矯角殺牛
きょうかくさつぎゅう
trying to straighten the horns of a bull, and killing it in the process; trying to correct a small defect and ruining the whole thing; the cure is worse than the disease; trying to straighten the horns of a bull, and killing it in the process
牛頭馬頭
ごずめず
horse-headed and ox-headed demons in the Buddhist hell; horse-headed and ox-headed demons in the Buddhist hell
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 牛 mean in Japanese?
牛 means cow.
How do you read 牛?
On'yomi: ギュウ (GYUU). Kun'yomi: うし (ushi).
How many strokes does 牛 have?
牛 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 牛 (cow).
Is 牛 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 牛 (cow) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.