牛
Character learning workspace

niú · ox, cow, bull

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #1148
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 牛

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 牛 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

牛
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Single-componentCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

牛Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 牛 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 牛

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

niúWords pronounced niú
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 牛 sits in each complete thought.

Suǒ yǒu de niú nǎi dōu yì chū qù le.所有的牛奶都溢出去了。

All of the milk was spilled.

Source: Tatoeba #897291 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bù xiǎng chuī niú.我不想吹牛。

I don't mean to brag.

Source: Tatoeba #13137879 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ dài le miàn bāo hé niú nǎi.我带了面包和牛奶。

I bought bread and milk.

Source: Tatoeba #13744197 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Suǒ yǒu de niú nǎi dōu sǎ chū qù le.所有的牛奶都灑出去了。

All of the milk was spilled.

Source: Tatoeba #897292 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Qǐng zài zài wǒ de chá lǐ jiā diǎn niú nǎi.请再在我的茶里加点牛奶。

Add a little more milk to my tea, please.

Source: Tatoeba #673272 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā hē le yì zhěng píng de niú nǎi.他喝了一整瓶的牛奶。

He drank a whole bottle of milk.

Source: Tatoeba #881102 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 牛 in context

  1. Say niú, then recall the core meaning: ox, cow, bull.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the single-component balanced.
  3. Use it in 牛奶 (niú nǎi), meaning “cow's milk”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 牛 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.