tend cattle

A hand  leading an ox 

Components
牛 meaning component

  Meaning component

niú

  

cow

攵 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

tap

Evolution

牧 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
牧 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
牧 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
牧 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
牧 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

tend cattle, shepherd; to herd; to breed livestock; to govern (old); government official (old)

 

surname Mu

Most common words with 牧
Freq.
Word
Meaning

牧师

chaplain

to herd

牧场

pasture

畜牧业

animal husbandry

畜牧

to raise animals