How to write 羔

羔 [gāo] 1. 小羊 (lamb; kid) - Example: 羊羔 (young lamb), 羔羊 (lamb), 羔儿皮 (lambskin). 2. 泛指动物的幼崽儿 (young animal) - Example: 鹿羔儿 (fawn), 牛羔儿 (calf). 3. 树秧或菜秧 (sprout) - Example: 黄菘养土羔，老楮生树鸡 (a reference from Dongpo Collection). 本义: 小羊 – The original meaning refers to a young sheep. 造字法: 会意。从羊，从火，下面的四点由“火”变来。甲骨文字形正象羊在火上 – The character formation is associative, depicting a sheep and fire, resembling a sheep over fire in oracle bone script. 引: 1. 《说文》：羔，羊子也 – In "Shuowen," it states that 羔 is a young lamb. 2. 《周礼·羊人》：凡祭祀饰羔 – In "Zhouli," it mentions decorative lambs for sacrifices. 3. 《周礼·大宗伯》：卿执羔 – A reference indicating the role of the minister in handling lambs. 4. 羔取其执之不鸣，杀之不号，乳必跪而受之，类死义知礼者也。– Annotations from "Gongyang Zhuan" describing the proper behavior around a lamb at rituals. 5. 《诗·豳风·七月》：献羔祭韭 – A line from poetry about offering lambs for festivals. 6. 《诗·郑风·羔裘》：羔裘豹饰 – Mention of lambskin cloaks embellished with leopard designs in poetry. 例: - 羔裘 (a robe made from young lambskin used by lords in ancient times). - 羔雁 (a gift in ancient times consisting of lamb and wild goose). - 羔币 (coins made from lambskin used as gifts to hire wise individuals). - 羔犊 (lamb and calf, often symbolizes the weaker party). In summary, the character 羔 primarily represents a lamb and extends to young animals and plant sprouts, with various historical literature references supporting its meanings.