牡 mǔ male animal
How to remember 牡: 牜 cow + 土 earth = male animal. The kids think every cow is a girl until one paws the earth and the farmer laughs "That's the bull, our only male animal!"
Component breakdown
牡 = 牜 cow + 土 earth
- 牜 cow
- 土 earth
The kids think every cow is a girl until one paws the earth and the farmer laughs "That's the bull, our only male animal!"
How it is used
- Male (of animals), the counterpart of 牝 (pìn, female) - but you mostly meet it in 牡丹 (mǔdan): the peony, king of flowers and a symbol of wealth and honor in Chinese culture. Also 牡蛎 (mǔlì) oyster.