牲 shēng sacrificial animal
How to remember 牲: 牜 cow + 生 life = sacrificial animal. The children cry when the fattest cow is chosen, but the old priest spares her life and offers a clay figure as the sacrificial animal instead.
Component breakdown
牲 = 牜 cow + 生 life
- 牜 cow
- 生 life
- ㇒ falling stroke
- 龶 plant
The children cry when the fattest cow is chosen, but the old priest spares her life and offers a clay figure as the sacrificial animal instead.
How it is used
- Livestock, especially sacrificial or farm animals - 牲畜 (shēngchù) farm animals/livestock, 牲口 (shēngkou) draft animals.
- In 牺牲 (xīshēng) the original 'sacrificial animal' sense extends to sacrificing oneself: 牺牲生命 (xīshēng shēngmìng) to lay down one's life.