牛
niú
Ox
牛 (niú) is the Chinese character for "ox," "cow," or "cattle." It also refers to the Ox as one of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, and informally, it can mean "awesome" or "amazing."
What does 牛 (niú) mean?
牛 (niú) means “ox” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “ox; cow.”
When to use it
Neutral when referring to the animal or zodiac sign. When used as slang, it's informal and positive, often used among friends or in casual contexts to express admiration. For example, in Chinese New Year greetings, people might say 牛气冲天 to wish someone great success and vigor.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "nee-OH," with a rising tone, similar to the "new" in "news" but with a rising pitch.
Other ways to say it
- 牛年niúniánYear of the Ox
- 我属牛wǒ shǔ niúMy zodiac sign is the Ox
- 牛气冲天niúqì chōngtiānawesome; full of vigor and spirit
Examples
今年是牛年。
jīnnián shì niúnián.
This year is the Year of the Ox.
他唱歌很牛！
tā chànggē hěn niú!
He's awesome at singing!
我属牛，你呢？
wǒ shǔ niú, nǐ ne?
My zodiac sign is the Ox, what about you?
Pro tip: 牛 has multiple meanings: it's the animal, a zodiac sign, and also a popular slang term for "awesome." Pay attention to the context to understand which meaning is intended.
Related phrases
你属什么？ · What's your chinese zodiac sign老鼠 · Rat老虎 · Tiger
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