Learn Chinese Characters 083 羊

by Caren Zuo

羊 (yáng)


Bronzeware: The heads of goats



It is easier for people to tell the characters between “羊” and “牛”， for the they give vivid portraits of the animal horns respectively that they represent.

Sheep is docile and amiable. They never scramble for food with others. They have been considered as auspicious animals from the ancient time. The Chinese idioms “三羊开泰”, which means three sheep bring good luck, is a good example.


The picture shows the theme of "三羊开泰", meaning three sheep bring good luck.

“羊” is a radical which is related to “sheep” when it is forms combined characters.

A Test: Can you tell the part representing “sheep”?
羔 祥 详 群 鲜

Useful Phrases:
羊肉 mutton (yáng ròu)

羊肉串 (yáng ròu chuàn)
mutton cubes roasted on a skewer

羊头 (yáng tóu)  
head of a goat or sheep

羊毛 (yáng máo) sheep's whool, fleece

羊羔 (yáng gāo)  lamb

Level Two:
羊肠小道 (yáng cháng xiǎo dào)
narrow winding trail like the a goat's intestines