Character
Horns on a head, an ox, a cow
All meanings
- ox
- cow
- bull
- ,頭|头[tou2]
- (slang) awesome
In context
Example sentences
草地上有一头牛。
Cǎodì shàng yǒu yī tóu niú.
There is a cow on the grass.
Keep going
Related words
Words with 牛
Grammar notes
Appears in these articles
HSK levels
牛: New to the HSK lists at HSK 3. See where your old level lands
New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting of the new exam is announced for 13 December 2026, for HSK 1 to 6. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.
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Frequently Asked Questions
牛 (niú) means "ox; cow; bull; ,頭|头[tou2]; (slang) awesome" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.
牛 is pronounced "niú" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.
牛 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.
Common words with 牛 include 吹牛 (to talk big), 丑牛 (Year 2, year of the Bull or Ox (e.g. 2009)), 乳牛 (dairy cattle), 公牛 (bull), 土牛 (clay ox).
牛 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 牛. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.