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鴈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
鴈
yàn
wild goose
x, 15 strokes, radical 鳥
yàn(yan4)yan T4
1wild goose
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March 24, 2026
鴈yàn(yan4)
The character 鴈 (yàn) refers to a wild goose, specifically a type of migratory bird often associated with the changing seasons. It can symbolize loyalty and family in Chinese culture, as geese are known to mate for life and travel in family groups. This character is commonly encountered in literature and poetry, representing themes of longing and reunion.
Strokes15Radical鳥
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, wild geese are often featured in poetry, symbolizing love and fidelity, particularly during the Mid-Autumn Festival when families reunite. The image of the wild goose is frequently used in idioms and literary references to express deep emotions related to separation and reunion.
Memory tip
Imagine a wild goose (鴈) flying high in the sky, its wings spread wide like a 'yawn' (sounds like 'yàn'). The character resembles a bird in flight, with the top resembling the head and wings while the bottom can be seen as the body. Visualize this goose soaring freely to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 鴈
yàn(yan4)
1wild goose
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 鴈
鴈Simplified
15Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鴈
Podcast: 鴈
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AI study notes for 鴈
Usage Notes
The character 鴈 is typically used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation, which can lead to confusion for learners. It's important to pair it with words related to nature or seasons, such as 'migration' (迁徙). Be careful with pronunciation; the tone is fourth, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
Although 鴈 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be connected with other nature-related words like 鸟 (bird) and 飞 (to fly), which are essential for building vocabulary at the beginner level. Focus on recognizing and using imagery in descriptions to enhance recall.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鴈 with other bird characters like 鸟 (bird) or 鹅 (goose), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我喜欢鴈' (I like wild goose) instead of '我喜欢鹅' (I like geese) when referring to common domestic geese.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鴈
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鴈 = 鳥 + 亻. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鴈
IDS Structure⿸厂⿰亻鳥
鴈Full character
=
厂chang3
enclosing
亻ren2
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 3
Parts
Which of these is part of 鴈?
How to say wild goose in Chinese
“wild goose” in Chinese is鴈yàn
The character 鴈 (yàn) refers to a wild goose, specifically a type of migratory bird often associated with the changing seasons. It can symbolize loyalty and family in Chinese culture, as geese are known to mate for life and travel in family groups. This character is commonly encountered in literature and poetry, representing themes of longing and reunion.
When to use 鴈
The character 鴈 is typically used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation, which can lead to confusion for learners. It's important to pair it with words related to nature or seasons, such as 'migration' (迁徙). Be careful with pronunciation; the tone is fourth, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 鴈 with other bird characters like 鸟 (bird) or 鹅 (goose), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我喜欢鴈' (I like wild goose) instead of '我喜欢鹅' (I like geese) when referring to common domestic geese.
Write 鴈
鴈
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Word Family of 鴈
Words containing this character18
雁yànwild goose
大雁dàyànwild goose
沉鱼落雁lit. fish sink, goose alights (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); fig. female beauty captivating even the birds and beasts沉魚落雁
雁塔Yanta District of Xi’an 西安市[Xī'ānShì], Shaanxi
鸿雁(bird species of China) swan goose (Anser cygnoides)鴻雁
雁荡山Yandang mountains, famous scenic area in southeast Zhejiang雁蕩山
雁塔区Yanta District of Xi’an 西安市[Xī'ānShì], Shaanxi雁塔區
雁过拔毛pragmatic雁過拔毛
雁山Yanshan district of Guilin city 桂林市[Guìlínshì], Guangxi
刘宾雁Liu Binyan (1925-2005), journalist and novelist, condemned by Mao as rightist faction in 1957, subsequently dissident writer劉賓雁
雁峰Yanfeng district of Hengyang city 衡陽市|衡阳市[Héngyángshì], Hunan
雁江区Yanjiang district of Ziyang city 資陽市|资阳市[Zīyángshì], Sichuan雁江區
雁峰区Yanfeng district of Hengyang city 衡陽市|衡阳市[Héngyángshì], Hunan雁峰區
胡雁Tatar goose, wild goose found in territories northwest of China in ancient times
雁江Yanjiang district of Ziyang city 資陽市|资阳市[Zīyángshì], Sichuan
雁山区Yanshan district of Guilin city 桂林市[Guìlínshì], Guangxi雁山區
黑雁(bird species of China) brant goose (Branta bernicla)
鱼沉雁杳lost in transmission魚沉雁杳
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 鴈
What does 雁 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 鴈
It symbolizes loyalty and family, as wild geese are known to mate for life and travel in groups.
No, it's more frequently found in literature and poetry rather than in daily speech.
The correct tone is the fourth tone, pronounced 'yàn'.
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