牛

• 拼音: niú
• 汉字拆解: 牛 = pictograph of a cow's head with two horns, one of the earliest Chinese characters

含义

Cow; ox; cattle. Also used colloquially to mean 'awesome' or 'impressive'.

The literal meaning refers to cattle as livestock. In modern colloquial Chinese, especially among young people, 牛 is widely used as slang for 'awesome' or 'impressive' (你太牛了！= You're amazing!). This slang usage comes from 牛逼/牛B, a crude but extremely common expression of admiration. The animal itself is culturally important as a symbol of diligence and hard work.

例句

1. 农村里很多人家都养牛。
2. 你一个人做完了这么多事，真牛！
3. 草地上有几头牛在吃草。

用法指南

语境: animals, farming, slang

语气: varied

正确说法

• 这头牛长得很壮。(This cow is very strong.)
• 他考了第一名，太牛了！(He got first place — so awesome!)

错误说法

• 老师，您讲课真牛！(Avoid using the slang 牛 with teachers or in formal settings — it can sound too casual or even rude. Say 您讲得真好 instead.)

起源与历史

A pictograph of a cow's head seen from the front, with two horns on top. One of the oldest Chinese characters.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal