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凤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
fèngmale phoenix; symbol of joyHSK 6, nr, 4 strokes, radical 几, rank #16697, Hard
fèngsurname FengHSK 6, unknown, 4 strokes, radical 几, rank #16697, Hard
fèng(Feng4) T4
  1. 1male phoenix; symbol of joy
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(鳳)fèng(Feng4)

The character 凤 (fèng) refers to a male phoenix, a mythical bird symbolizing joy and prosperity in Chinese culture. It is often associated with beauty, grace, and auspiciousness, frequently appearing in literature and art. As a surname, Feng is common in Chinese-speaking communities, linking personal identity to this powerful symbol.

Strokes4RadicalFrequency#16697DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the phoenix is often paired with the dragon, symbolizing the balance of yin and yang, particularly in marriage, where the dragon represents the male and the phoenix the female. This pairing signifies harmony and prosperity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a magnificent bird soaring through the sky, its vibrant feathers shimmering like flames. The character 凤 resembles the shape of a bird in flight, with its elegant curves suggesting grace and beauty, which aligns with the idea of a phoenix. This connection can help you remember both its pronunciation (fèng) and its meaning.

Meanings of 凤

fèng(Feng4)
1male phoenix; symbol of joy
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 凤

Simplified
Traditional
4Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1

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AI Study Notes for 凤

Quick Contrast

凰 (huáng) - use 凤 (fèng) specifically for the male phoenix, while 凰 (huáng) refers to the female phoenix.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a magnificent bird soaring through the sky, its vibrant feathers shimmering like flames. The character 凤 resembles the shape of a bird in flight, with its elegant curves suggesting grace and beauty, which aligns with the idea of a phoenix. This connection can help you remember both its pronunciation (fèng) and its meaning.

Usage Notes

When using 凤, it's important to distinguish it from other similar characters like 鳳, which is a more formal or literary version. The character is often used in celebratory contexts, such as weddings or festivals, to convey joy and good fortune. Be cautious with the tone; the fourth tone (fèng) can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 凤 is not included in the HSK levels, it is useful for learners at higher levels interested in cultural references. Students should focus on related vocabulary, such as 鸟 (bird) and 祥瑞 (auspicious signs), to build a deeper understanding of symbolic language in Chinese.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the phoenix is often paired with the dragon, symbolizing the balance of yin and yang, particularly in marriage, where the dragon represents the male and the phoenix the female. This pairing signifies harmony and prosperity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 凤 with its female counterpart, 鸾 (luán), leading to incorrect references to gender. Ensure you remember 凤 is specifically the male phoenix, while 鸾 refers to the female. Additionally, some might accidentally use the wrong tone, saying 'feng' instead of 'fèng', which changes the meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 凤

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Etymology of 凤

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 鳳. Phonosemantic compound. 鳥 represents the meaning and 凡 represents the sound. Originally a pictograph of a mythical Chinese bird, similar to a phoenix. Later the phonetic component 凡 was added.

Memory Hint

simplified form of 鳥 bird

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 凤?

Decomposition of 凤

IDS Structure⿵几又
Full Character
=
ji1
enclosing
you4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 凤?

Write 凤

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Grammar Patterns of 凤

凤 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

桑塔格一直是那种兼具美貌与智慧的人中龙____。

Sontag has always been that rarity, a glamorous intellectual.

Example Sentences for 凤 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
桑塔格一直是那种兼具美貌与智慧的人中龙凤。

sāng tǎ gé yī zhí shì nà zhǒng jiān jù měi mào yǔ zhì huì de rén zhōng lóng fèng。

Sontag has always been that rarity, a glamorous intellectual.
2
成功的女政治家凤毛麟角。

chéng gōng de nǚ zhèng zhì jiā fèng máo lín jiǎo。

Successful women politicians are few and far between.
3
觉新和鸣凤用力地划着船.

jué xīn hé míng fèng yòng lì dì huá zháo chuán.

Chueh - hsin and Ming - feng plied the oar vigorously.
4
鸣凤 好像从梦中醒过来似的,她的脸色马上变了.

míng fèng hǎo xiàng cóng mèng zhōng xǐng guò lái sì, de , tā de liǎn sè mǎ shàng.

Ming - feng seemed to awake from a dream and her expression changed.
5
“ 鸣凤,真苦了你了.

“ “ míng, fèng , zhēn kǔ le.

" You suffer too much , Ming - feng !
6
你要梅花, 喊鸣凤来折好了,何必要亲自动手? ’

nǐ yào méi huā, , hǎn míng fèng lái zhē hǎo, le , hé bì yào qīn zì?’

" If you want blossoms, why not let Ming - feng get them for you? "
7
他把花枝折下来, 交给鸣凤.

tā bǎ huā zhī zhē xià lái, , jiāo gěi míng.

It'snapped off. He handed it to Ming - f eng.
8
他看见鸣凤正在折一枝往下垂的梅花.

tā kàn jiàn míng fèng zhèng zài zhē yī zhī wǎng xià chuí de méi huā.

She was breaking off a low - hanging branch.
9
他又较重地敲了两下, 低声唤着: “ 鸣凤, 鸣凤. ”

tā yòu jiào zhòng dì qiāo le liǎng xià, , dī shēng huàn:“ zháo : “, míng fèng.”

He rapped more loudly, and called in a low voice, " Ming - feng , Ming - feng. "
10
龙生龙, 凤生凤.

lóng shēng lóng, , fèng shēng.

Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes.

Cultural Notes for 凤

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the phoenix is often paired with the dragon, symbolizing the balance of yin and yang, particularly in marriage, where the dragon represents the male and the phoenix the female. This pairing signifies harmony and prosperity.

Word Family of 凤

Words Containing This Character15
凤凰fènghuángFenghuang county in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture 湘西土家族苗族自治州[Xiāng​xī​Tǔ​jiā​zú​Miáo​zú​zì​zhì​zhōu]鳳凰
fèngphoenix
凤尾鱼anchovy鳳尾魚
龙凤Longfeng district of Daqing city 大慶|大庆[Dà​qìng], Heilongjiang龍鳳
凤梨pineapple鳳梨
凤毛麟角fig. few and far between鳳毛麟角
凤翔Fengxiang County in Baoji 寶雞|宝鸡[Bǎo​jī], Shaanxi鳳翔
龙凤呈祥auspicious龍鳳呈祥
凤阳Fengyang county in Chuzhou 滁州[Chú​zhōu], Anhui鳳陽
凤山Fengshan city in Taiwan鳳山
丹凤Danfeng County in Shangluo 商洛[Shāng​luò], Shaanxi丹鳳
龙飞凤舞flamboyant or bold cursive calligraphy (idiom)龍飛鳳舞
凤城Fengcheng Manzu autonomous county in Liaoning鳳城
凤仙花balsam鳳仙花
凤眼elegant, almond-shaped eyes with the inner canthus pointing down and the outer canthus up, like the eye of a phoenix鳳眼
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 凤凰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 凤

凤 symbolizes joy and is often associated with auspiciousness, especially in weddings and celebrations.