Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
鴨yā(ya1)
The character 鴨 (yā) refers to a duck, specifically various species within the Anas genus. It is commonly used in contexts related to food, especially in dishes like Peking duck, and in discussions about wildlife or agriculture.
Strokes16Radical鳥Frequency#60245DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, duck is a popular dish, particularly in Peking duck, which is a traditional dish famous for its crispy skin and flavorful meat. This dish is often served during special occasions and celebrations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a duck (鴨) quacking in a yard (the 'y' sound in yā). The character has a 'bird' radical (鳥) at the bottom, indicating it relates to avian species, making it easier to remember that it refers to a type of bird.
Meanings of 鴨
yā(ya1)
1duck; Anas species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鴨
鴨Simplified
16Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鴨
Podcast: 鴨
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 鴨
Quick Contrast
鸭 (yā) refers specifically to domesticated ducks, while 鴨 (yā) can refer to both wild and domesticated ducks, making it more general.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a duck (鴨) quacking in a yard (the 'y' sound in yā). The character has a 'bird' radical (鳥) at the bottom, indicating it relates to avian species, making it easier to remember that it refers to a type of bird.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鴨 with similar characters like 鴿 (gē, pigeon) or 鳥 (niǎo, bird) which might appear in similar contexts. 鴨 is generally used in both formal and informal settings, but is especially common in culinary discussions.
HSK Study Tips
While 鴨 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for learners at the HSK 3-4 level who are expanding their vocabulary related to food and animals. Students should focus on pronunciation and usage in context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, duck is a popular dish, particularly in Peking duck, which is a traditional dish famous for its crispy skin and flavorful meat. This dish is often served during special occasions and celebrations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鴨 with 鳥 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鴨 specifically refers to ducks, so use it when talking about that particular type of bird.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鴨
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 鴨 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 鴨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 鴨
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, duck is a popular dish, particularly in Peking duck, which is a traditional dish famous for its crispy skin and flavorful meat. This dish is often served during special occasions and celebrations.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, ducks are often seen as common wildlife, while in Chinese culture, they hold a significant place in culinary traditions, especially in festive meals.
Word Family of 鴨
Words Containing This Character20
鸭yāduck鴨
鸭子yāziduck鴨子
鸭梨Chinese white pear (Pyrus × bretschneideri)鴨梨
烤鸭kǎoyāroast duck烤鴨
野鸭wild duck野鴨
唐老鸭Donald Duck唐老鴨
鸭绿江Yalu River, forming part of the China-Korea border鴨綠江
鸭舌帽peaked cap鴨舌帽
板鸭pressed (dried) salted duck板鴨
鸭嘴兽platypus鴨嘴獸
北京烤鸭Peking Duck北京烤鴨
旱鸭子non-swimmer旱鴨子
填鸭式force feeding (as a teaching method)填鴨式
双鸭山Shuangyashan prefecture level city in Heilongjiang province 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hēilóngjiāng] in northeast China雙鴨山
鸭掌duck feet (claws)鴨掌
赶鸭子上架lit. to drive a duck onto a perch (idiom)趕鴨子上架
双鸭山市Shuangyashan prefecture level city in Heilongjiang province 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hēilóngjiāng] in northeast China雙鴨山市
填鸭to force-feed ducks填鴨
家鸭domestic duck家鴨
吃鸭蛋(fig.) to score 0 (on a test, in competition etc)吃鴨蛋
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鸭 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鴨
It is pronounced as 'yā'.
Yes, there are various terms for different types of ducks, but 鴨 generally refers to ducks in a broad sense.
Yes, it can appear in idioms related to food or nature.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 鴨?
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.
