Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
雛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
雛chúchick, fledging; infant, toddlerx, 18 strokes, radical 隹, rank #70764, Very Hard
chú(chu2) T2
  1. 1chick, fledging; infant, toddler
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

雛chú(chu2)

The character 雛 (chú) refers to a young bird, particularly a chick, that has just hatched. It can also denote an infant or toddler in a broader sense, symbolizing youth and immaturity. This term is often used in literary contexts and can evoke a sense of innocence and fragility.

Strokes18Radical隹Frequency#70764DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of youth and innocence is often celebrated in poetry and art, symbolized by the image of a fledgling bird. The term 雛 can be found in idiomatic expressions that reflect care for the young, emphasizing the value placed on nurturing the next generation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny chick (雛) peeking out of its shell, representing new life. The character 雛 resembles a bird (the top part, 隹) sitting on a small nest (下部), emphasizing its young and delicate nature, while 'chú' sounds like 'chew', as in the sound a chick makes while pecking at its food.

Meanings of 雛

chú(chu2)
1chick, fledging; infant, toddler
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 雛

雛Simplified
18Strokes
隹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 雛

JasonAmy

Podcast: 雛

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 雛

Quick Contrast

幼 (yòu) - use 雛 (chú) specifically for newly hatched birds, while 幼 (yòu) is more general for young or immature beings.

Usage Notes

雛 is typically used in literary contexts or when referring to young animals or children. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words; for example, '初' (chū) means 'beginning' and has a different nuance. While it can be used informally, be cautious in formal writing as it may seem overly sentimental.

HSK Study Tips

Although 雛 is not in the official HSK vocabulary, it can be beneficial for learners focusing on nature or family vocabulary. Students should relate this word to other terms for young animals or children, expanding their vocabulary around youth and growth.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 雛 with similar words like 幼 (yòu) or 初 (chū), leading to incorrect usage. For instance, using '幼' in place of '雛' when referring specifically to chicks would be incorrect; '幼' is broader and may not convey the same imagery.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 雛

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 雛 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 雛

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

Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 刍 represents the sound. Simplified form of 雛.

Memory Hint

bird

Semantic (meaning)隹
+
Phonetic (sound)芻
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 雛

Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 刍 represents the sound. Simplified form of 雛.

  1. 1The meaning half隹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half芻 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybird
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 雛? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 雛?

Decomposition of 雛

IDS Structure⿰芻隹
雛Full Character
=
芻chu2
left
隹zhui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 雛?

How to say chick, fledging; infant, toddler in Chinese

“chick, fledging; infant, toddler” in Chinese is雛chú

The character 雛 (chú) refers to a young bird, particularly a chick, that has just hatched. It can also denote an infant or toddler in a broader sense, symbolizing youth and immaturity. This term is often used in literary contexts and can evoke a sense of innocence and fragility.

When to use 雛

雛 is typically used in literary contexts or when referring to young animals or children. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words; for example, '初' (chū) means 'beginning' and has a different nuance. While it can be used informally, be cautious in formal writing as it may seem overly sentimental.

雛 or something close to it

幼 (yòu) - use 雛 (chú) specifically for newly hatched birds, while 幼 (yòu) is more general for young or immature beings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 雛 with similar words like 幼 (yòu) or 初 (chū), leading to incorrect usage. For instance, using '幼' in place of '雛' when referring specifically to chicks would be incorrect; '幼' is broader and may not convey the same imagery.

Write 雛

雛

Practice writing 雛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 雛

Words Containing This Character10
雏chúchick雛
雏形embryonic form雛形
雏菊daisy雛菊
雏鸡chick雛雞
雏儿bimbo雛兒
雏型model雛型
幼雏young bird幼雛
雏凤fig. young talent雛鳳
龙驹凤雏brilliant young man龍駒鳳雛
伏龙凤雏hidden genius (idiom)伏龍鳳雛
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 雏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 雛

雛 (chú) specifically refers to young birds or very young children, while 幼 (yòu) is a more general term for anything that is young or immature.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 雛?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.