1. 犬 {Play}[quǎn]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a dog. The pictograph is like the shape of the dog with the head, legs and tail, e.g. 猎犬(hunting dog), 警犬(police dog).

From this primitive sense, a metaphorical extended sense is derived — loyally serve to someone, e.g. 犬马之劳 (serve like a dog or a horse).

2. 牛 {Play}[niú]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is an ox. The pictograph describes the head of the ox from face front view, e.g. 母牛(cow), 公牛(bull), 小牛(calf).

Because the physical strength of the ox is very strong, an extended sense is derived—great strength, e.g.牛劲(tremendous effort).

3. 羊 {Play}[yáng]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a sheep. The pictograph describes the head of the sheep from face front view, e.g. 绵羊(sheep), 山羊(goat), 小羊(lamb). The sheep horns are downward, while the ox horns are upward. This is the difference between these two pictographs.

Because the physical strength of the sheep is relatively weak, an extended sense is derived — weakness, e.g. 羊质虎皮(a sheep in a tiger’s skin, i.e. outwardly strong, inwardly weak).

4. 马 {Play}[mǎ]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a horse. The pictograph describes the shape of the horse with the head, mane，tail and legs, e.g. 母马(mare), 小马(pony).

Because the horse can be ridden, an extended sense is derived — ride, e.g.马裤(riding breeches).

5. 豕 {Play}[shǐ]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a pig. The pictograph describes the shape of the pig with the head, mane, tail and legs. In the oracle script and bronze script, the dog tail is upward but the pig tail is downward It is the difference between 犬and 豕.

6. 鹿 {Play}[lù]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a deer. The pictograph depicts the shape of the deer with the head, horns and legs, e.g. 梅花鹿(sika deer).

Because the deer is the prey in hunting, a metaphorical extended sense is derived—object to fight for, e.g. 逐鹿中原(fight among rivals for the throne).

7. 象 {Play}[xiàng]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is an elephant. The pictograph describes the shape of the elephant with the long proboscis, head, tail and legs, e.g.亚洲象(Asian elephant). Its primitive sense is used until now.

Its extended sense is ivory, e.g. 象箸(ivory chopsticks).

8. 鸟 {Play}[niǎo]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a bird with a long tail, e.g. 雏鸟(young bird).

Because the bird can fly very high, an extended sense is derived—鸟瞰(get a bird’s-eye view, general survey of a subject).

9. 乌 {Play}[wū]

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a crow. The pictograph describes the shape of a crow without eyes. Perhaps the feather of the crow is so dark that the man cannot see its eyes very dearly, e.g. 乌鸦(crow).

Because the color of the crow plume is generally black, an extended sense is derived —black, or dark, e.g.乌云(dark cloud), 乌金(black gold — coal).

10. 隹[zhuī]

oracle script:

bronze script:

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a short-tailed bird. Shou Wen Jie Zi says: 隹 is the general name for short-tailed birds. It is a pictograph.” (《说文》：“隹，鸟之短尾总名也。象形。”) The pictograph describes the shape of a bird with the head, wings and a short tail.

隹 can be used as the semantic component in some Chinese characters relating to the bird, e.g. 雉(pheasant), 雕(eagle).

11. 鱼 {Play}[yú]

oracle script:

bronze script: 

small seal script:

Its primitive sense is a fish. The pictograph describes the shape of a fish with the head, scales, fins and tail, e.g. 胖头鱼(big head fish). Shuo Wen Jie Zi says: “鱼 means a sort of water creature. It is a pictograph”(《说文》：“鱼，水虫也。象形。”)

Because the fish can be slaughtered and cooked, an extended sense is derived—oppress or victimize, e.g.鱼肉百姓(cruelly and savagely oppress the people).

12. 贝 {Play}[bèi]

oracle script: 

bronze script: 

small seal script: 

Its primitive sense is a shellfish. The pictograph describes the shape of the shellfish from face downward view, e.g. 贝壳(shell).

In ancient China, the shellfish was used as cowrie money, so an extended sense was derived — currency.

贝can be used as the semantic component in some Chinese characters expressing the wealth, e.g. 财(wealth), 贷(borrow or lend), 贸(trade), 贿(bribery), 赁(rent, hire).

PS: Mind Map for Describing Animal Characters