羊
sheep
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Derives from a frontal view of a sheep's head, stylizing horns and face. Important as livestock, appearing in characters with positive meanings like 'beauty' (美) and 'good' (善).
Symbolism
Symbolizes gentleness, auspiciousness, and sacrifice. As one of the zodiac animals, represents calm and kind nature.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Flock of sheep
Component Breakdown
䒑 + two + 丨
Words & Expressions
Words written with 羊
Four-Character Compounds
羊頭狗肉
ようとうくにく
crying wine and selling vinegar; deceptive advertisement
多岐亡羊
たきぼうよう
too many options making selection difficult; truth being hard to find as paths to it proliferate
羊質虎皮
ようしつこひ
sheep in a tiger's skin; gimcrack; showy without real worth
亡羊補牢
ぼうようほろう
locking the barn door after the horse has bolted; doing something too late; mending the pen after the sheep are lost
Anime & Manga
山羊座の友人
My Capricorn friend
A well-known work with 羊 in its Japanese title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 羊 mean in Japanese?
羊 means sheep.
How do you read 羊?
On'yomi: ヨウ (YOU). Kun'yomi: ひつじ (hitsuji).
How many strokes does 羊 have?
羊 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 羊 (sheep).
Is 羊 a good kanji for a tattoo?
羊 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means sheep. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.