牧 mù — tend, herd · English

牧

mù

tend, herd

At a glance · 牧

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文、金文从攴（手持鞭）从牛，会意放养牲畜。隶楷作「牧」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「牧」本指放养牛马，引申为治理百姓之官。

Structure

会意字，从攴从牛，手执鞭放牧之形。

At a glance

Pinyinmù

Radical牜

Strokes8

UnicodeU+7267

Character type会意

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English tend, herd To tend (cattle); to govern.

Français garder, élever Soigner (bétail); gouverner.

Español cuidar, pastorear Cuidar (ganado); gobernar.

العربية يرعى، يحكم يرعى الماشية أو يحكم.

Русский пасти, управлять Пасти (скот); управлять (народом).

Common words

牧mùherd
牧场mù chǎngpasture

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