牲畜

• Pinyin: shēng chù
• Hanzi breakdown: 牲 = 牛 + 生 (sacrificial animal, domestic livestock); 畜 = 玄 + 田 (to raise, livestock)

Meaning

Livestock; domestic animals raised for agricultural or economic purposes, such as cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs.

A collective noun for farm animals used in agriculture, transportation, and food production. Common in rural, economic, and historical contexts. Contrasted with 野生动物 (wildlife) and 宠物 (pets). Appears in discussions of animal husbandry (畜牧业), pastoral economies, and veterinary science.

Examples

1. 这场持续数月的严重旱灾导致大量牲畜因缺水和饲料不足而死亡。 This severe drought that lasted for months caused large numbers of livestock to die from a lack of water and feed.
2. 在现代化农业普及之前，牲畜是农耕社会最重要的生产资料和劳动力来源。 Before modern agriculture became widespread, livestock were the most important means of production and source of labor in agrarian societies.
3. 兽医团队深入牧区，为当地牧民的牲畜提供免费的疫苗接种和健康检查服务。 A veterinary team went deep into pastoral areas to provide local herders with free vaccinations and health checkups for their livestock.

Usage Guide

Context: agriculture, rural life, history, veterinary

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该地区政府为受灾牧民提供了紧急饲料援助，帮助他们渡过牲畜大规模死亡的危机。(The regional government provided emergency fodder assistance to disaster-stricken herders, helping them through the crisis of large-scale livestock mortality.)
• 传统游牧民族的生活方式以转场放牧为核心，牲畜的数量直接决定了家庭的财富和地位。(The traditional nomadic way of life centres on seasonal pasture migration; the number of livestock directly determines a family's wealth and social standing.)

Don't Say

• 牲畜 when referring to pets or wild animals — 牲畜 specifically denotes domesticated animals raised for agricultural or economic use; use 宠物 for pets and 野生动物 for wildlife

Origin & History

牲 (sacrificial animal; domestic animal) + 畜 (to raise animals; livestock)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal