牠 meaning and stroke order
It; polled cattle
How to write 牠, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 牠
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- it (pronoun for an animal)
How 牠 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 牛 (ox), shared by 34 characters on this site.
How to remember 牠
牠 combines 牛 (niú, ox) with 也 (yě), the same right side found in 他 (tā, he) and 她 (tā, she). Swap the person radical for an ox and you get the pronoun for an animal.
牠 is used mainly in Taiwan and in traditional-character writing to mean "it" when referring to an animal. In mainland simplified Chinese, 它 (tā) is used instead for both animals and things. Example: 我的狗很聪明，牠会开门。(Wǒ de gǒu hěn cōngming, tā huì kāimén.) My dog is smart. It can open doors.
Common mistake: Learners often write 牠 when writing simplified Chinese, where 它 is the standard form for animals. Others mix it up with 他 and 她 because all three share the right side 也 and the same sound tā.
牠 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 牠
How many strokes are in 牠?
牠 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 牠 mean?
牠 (tā) means it; polled cattle.
How do you pronounce 牠?
牠 is pronounced tā, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 牠?
The radical of 牠 is 牛, which carries the idea of "ox". Dictionaries list 牠 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 牠?
牠 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 它, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Do 他, 她, 它 and 牠 sound different in speech?
No. All of them are pronounced tā with the first tone. The difference only shows up in writing, so listeners rely on context to know who or what is meant.
Can 牠 be used for pets I feel close to?
Yes, 牠 works for any animal, including pets. Some writers use 他 or 她 for a beloved pet to show affection, but 牠 is the standard and neutral choice in traditional-character writing.