Chinese word

牦牛

Pronunciation

Pinyinmáo niú

Meaning

  • nounyak

Example

牦牛住在高原上。máo niú zhù zài gāo yuán shàng

Yaks live on the plateau.

Illustration for 牦牛 (yak)

More examples

牦牛的毛很长。máo niú de máo hěn zhǎng

A yak has very long hair.

Core concept

A strong mountain animal that looks like a big cow and wears a long, thick coat.

Common phrases

  • 一头牦牛yì tóu máo niú

    a yak

  • 牦牛肉máo niú ròu

    yak meat

Similar words

牛niú: A large farm animal with horns that eats grass.

Definition in Chinese

牦牛是一种生活在高原上的大型牛科动物，身上长着厚厚的长毛。máo niú shì yì zhǒng shēng huó zài gāo yuán shàng de dà xíng niú kē dòng wù shēn shàng zhǎng zhe hòu hòu de cháng máo

Word origin

牦 (máo, "yak") is built from 牛 (niú, "cattle") + 毛 (máo, "hair"): the first part gives the animal meaning and the second gives the pronunciation, with 牛 added again to form the full animal name.

Usage tips

  • Its thick coat protects it from cold, windy weather, making the animal easy to recognize in pictures of high plateaus.

Word lists with this word