羊
contributes the sense of sheep and goats — the animals themselves · Kangxi radical 123
contributes the sense of sheep and goats — the animals themselves, and by extension things regarded as auspicious, wholesome, or nourishing
羊 began as a simple front-on drawing of a sheep or goat's head: a pair of curved horns on top, the line of the brow, and the long face below. In the modern form the two short strokes at the top are the horns, the three horizontal strokes are the brow and face, and the vertical stroke runs down the middle of the muzzle. Since sheep were valuable livestock and sacrificial animals, 羊 came to hint at good fortune and plenty as well, as in 祥 (auspicious) and 养 (to raise animals). When crowded under another element the horns often flatten and the vertical stroke stops short, as in 着 and 羌.
羊 at a glance
- Meaning
- contributes the sense of sheep and goats — the animals themselves
- Strokes
- 6
- Characters
- 46
- Role
- Contributes meaning and sound
- Kangxi radical
- 123
Characters with 羊 (36 of 46)
HSK 1 · 1
HSK 4 · 7
Beyond HSK · 22
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 羊 mean?
羊 means "contributes the sense of sheep and goats — the animals themselves". In the characters that contain it, it contributes meaning and sound.
How many Chinese characters contain 羊?
46 characters in this dictionary contain 羊, including ones at HSK 1, HSK 4, HSK 5, HSK 6.
Is 羊 a radical?
Yes — 羊 is Kangxi radical 123, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 羊 have?
羊 is written in 6 strokes.