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骝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
骝liúa legendary horseg, 13 strokes, radical 马, rank #82191, Very Hard
骝liúbay horse with black maneunknown, 13 strokes, radical 马, rank #82191, Very Hard
liú(liu2) T2
  1. 1a legendary horse
  2. 2bay horse with black mane
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

骝(騮)liú(liu2)

The character 骝 (liú) refers to a legendary horse, often associated with speed and strength, and specifically denotes a bay horse with a black mane. This term is commonly used in literature and poetry to evoke imagery of noble steeds, often symbolizing power and grace in Chinese culture.

Strokes13Radical马Frequency#82191DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The horse holds significant cultural importance in Chinese history, symbolizing nobility, speed, and power, often appearing in ancient texts and folklore. The legendary status of horses like 骝 reflects the admiration for such creatures in Chinese heritage, especially in the context of warfare and travel.

Memory Tip

Visualize a majestic horse running through a field. The character 骝 has the horse radical (犭) on the left, reminding you of its equine nature, while the right side suggests its unique coloring. Imagine a 'black mane' flowing as it gallops, helping you remember both the pronunciation 'liú' and its meaning.

Meanings of 骝

liú(liu2)
1a legendary horse
2bay horse with black mane
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 骝

骝Simplified
騮Traditional
13Strokes
马Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 骝

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Podcast: 骝

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AI Study Notes for 骝

Usage Notes

In more formal contexts, 骝 may be used in poetry or classical texts rather than everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious about its specific usage, as it is not commonly used in modern vernacular. Additionally, it’s important to ensure correct pronunciation, as mixing tones can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 骝 is not included in the HSK levels, it offers a glimpse into more advanced vocabulary related to animals and descriptive adjectives. Learners should focus on understanding the character's components and related words about animals and mythology to deepen their vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 骝 with other horse-related characters such as 马. For instance, saying '马' when referring to a legendary horse like 骝 can lead to ambiguity. It's important to remember that 骝 has a specific cultural and literary significance.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 骝

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Etymology of 骝

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

horse

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 骝

  1. 1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half留 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhorse
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 骝? 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 骝?

Decomposition of 骝

IDS Structure⿰马留
骝Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
留liu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 骝?

How to say a legendary horse in Chinese

“a legendary horse” in Chinese is骝liú

The character 骝 (liú) refers to a legendary horse, often associated with speed and strength, and specifically denotes a bay horse with a black mane. This term is commonly used in literature and poetry to evoke imagery of noble steeds, often symbolizing power and grace in Chinese culture.

When to use 骝

In more formal contexts, 骝 may be used in poetry or classical texts rather than everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious about its specific usage, as it is not commonly used in modern vernacular. Additionally, it’s important to ensure correct pronunciation, as mixing tones can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 骝 with other horse-related characters such as 马. For instance, saying '马' when referring to a legendary horse like 骝 can lead to ambiguity. It's important to remember that 骝 has a specific cultural and literary significance.

Write 骝

骝

Practice writing 骝 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 骝

Words Containing This Character1
骝liúbay horse with black mane騮
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 骝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 骝

In modern usage, 骝 primarily refers to a specific type of horse, often found in literary or poetic contexts rather than daily conversation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 骝?

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.