Meaning
羊 refers to sheep, goats, and related animals in the Caprinae subfamily. In Chinese culture, sheep symbolize gentleness, filial piety, and auspiciousness. The character itself is a pictograph showing the head and horns of a sheep viewed from the front.
Usage
羊 is a general term that can refer to both sheep and goats, though context usually clarifies which. For precision, native speakers use 绵羊 (miányáng) for sheep and 山羊 (shānyáng) for goats. It appears in the Chinese zodiac as one of the twelve animals and is commonly seen in idioms and expressions related to gentleness or following the herd.
Examples
- 01草原上有很多羊。.There are many sheep on the grassland.
- 02他属羊。.He was born in the Year of the Sheep.
Measure words
- 只一只羊
- 头三头羊
- 群一群羊
Common collocations
- 羊肉mutton, lamb meat
- 牧羊to herd sheep
- 羊群flock of sheep
- 替罪羊scapegoat
Origin
羊 is an ancient pictograph dating back to oracle bone script, depicting a sheep's head with two horns curving upward and downward, representing the animal from a frontal view.