羊
sheep
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
䒑 + two + 丨
Cultural Context
Etymology
Derives from a frontal view of a sheep's head, stylizing horns and face. Important as livestock, appearing in characters with positive meanings like 'beauty' (美) and 'good' (善).
Symbolism
Symbolizes gentleness, auspiciousness, and sacrifice. As one of the zodiac animals, represents calm and kind nature.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Flock of sheep
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
羊頭狗肉
ようとうくにく
crying wine and selling vinegar; deceptive advertisement; crying wine and selling vinegar
多岐亡羊
たきぼうよう
too many options making selection difficult; truth being hard to find as paths to it proliferate; too many options making selection difficult
羊質虎皮
ようしつこひ
sheep in a tiger's skin; gimcrack; showy without real worth; sheep in a tiger's skin
亡羊補牢
ぼうようほろう
locking the barn door after the horse has bolted; doing something too late; mending the pen after the sheep are lost; locking the barn door after the horse has bolted