yáng · sheep / goat
animal
💡 How to pronounce

y → like the 'y' in 'yes'. áng → like 'ung' in 'sung' but with a rising tone.

📖 The Story

羊 is the sheep or goat — a gentle and peaceful animal. The oracle bone script shows a ram's head with curved horns. In Chinese culture, 羊 represents kindness, beauty, and good fortune. The character itself is also used as a radical in many other characters related to beauty and goodness.

🎬 In Culture Today

The sheep is the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac. The saying '三羊开泰' (sān yáng kāi tài) is a New Year's greeting that means 'three sheep bring good fortune.'

📚 Words

yáng máowool
yáng ròulamb / mutton
yáng qúnflock of sheep
fàng yángto herd sheep

📝 Example Sentences

羊毛很温暖。

Yángmáo hěn wēnnuǎn.

Wool is very warm.

我喜欢吃羊肉。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī yángròu.

I like eating lamb.