牛 niú

“ox; cow; bull”

noun, name2021 list level 3Measure word 条 · 头

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

牛 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 785: 牛 niú — Level 3; official annotation 3（5） (名、（形）). PDF page 99

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 牛

Noun for 'cow, ox, bull', counted with 头 (一头牛). In casual speech 牛 is also an adjective meaning 'awesome, impressive' (真牛、太牛了), which is slangy but very common. When it is the surname Niu it is written with a capital letter.

例句Example sentences

草地上有几头牛在吃草。cǎo dì shàng yǒu jǐ tóu niú zài chī cǎo.A few cows are grazing on the grass.
他家里养了二十头牛。tā jiā lǐ yǎng le èr shí tóu niú.His family raises twenty cows.
你一个人把冰箱搬上五楼？真牛！nǐ yí gè rén bǎ bīng xiāng bān shàng wǔ lóu? zhēn niú!You carried the fridge up to the fifth floor by yourself? That's awesome!

常见错误Common mistakes

✗他家养了三个牛。

✓他家养了三头牛。

Large animals such as cows, pigs and elephants are counted with 头, not 个.

易混词Easily confused

牛vs牛肉

牛 alone is the live animal; the meat is 牛肉. 我喜欢牛 would mean you like the animal, not that you like beef.

义项All meanings

Niú: surname Niu
niú: ox; cow; bull; newton (abbr. for 牛顿); (slang) awesome