Sheep-Goat Character

A broad sheep-or-goat word in Chinese, not a mood marker.

Its 羊 character origin lies in oracle-bone and bronze writing as a front-facing horned head, later regularized by seal and clerical forms into the modern shape. Shang ritual records place sheep among offerings whose meat was cooked for spirits and people, so 羊 starts in livestock, sacrifice, and food. Traditional lexicography later tied it to good fortune with the gloss “羊，祥也” (“sheep, auspicious”).

Is 羊 sheep or goat?

Either; the surrounding word usually settles it.

山羊 means goat, 绵羊 means sheep, and 羚羊 means antelope; the added character does the precision work. A 2015 China Daily report described zodiac depictions as more sheep-like in northern China and more goat-like in the south. A 2014 Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs account describes 羊 as an imported zodiac animal whose auspicious imagery did not become a settled native motif. In Japanese, 羊 is usually ひつじ for sheep, with よう in compounds.