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鵡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鵡wǔspecies of parrotx, 19 strokes, radical 鳥
wǔ(wu3)wu T3
  1. 1species of parrot
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March 24, 2026

鵡wǔ(wu3)

The character 鵡 (wǔ) specifically refers to a type of parrot, often characterized by their bright colors and ability to mimic sounds. This word is commonly used in discussions about pets, wildlife, and avian species, reflecting a fascination with these intelligent birds. In a broader context, it can also symbolize playfulness and social interaction.

Strokes19Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, parrots are often associated with good fortune and intelligence, and they are popular pets among bird enthusiasts. They are also featured in folklore and art, symbolizing joy and companionship.

Memory tip

Imagine a vibrant parrot, its feathers a mix of colors, perched on a branch. The character 鵡 resembles a bird in flight, with the radical 鳥 (bird) at the top, reminding you of its avian nature. To pronounce it, think of 'woo' as the sound a parrot might make when it mimics human speech.

Meanings of 鵡

wǔ(wu3)
1species of parrot
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鵡

鵡Simplified
19Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鵡

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Podcast: 鵡

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AI study notes for 鵡

Quick Contrast

鹦鹉 (yīngwǔ) vs 鵡 (wǔ): Use 鵡 when referring to a specific type of parrot, while 鹦鹉 is a more general term for parrots.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鵡 with other bird-related characters, so it’s important to remember that 鵡 specifically refers to parrots. It is generally used in a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it as wǔ instead of the correct tone can lead to confusion with entirely different words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鵡 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to the broader category of animals, which is essential for HSK Level 1 and 2 learners. Students should focus on familiarizing themselves with basic animal vocabulary to enhance their conversational skills about pets and wildlife.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鵡 with 鳥 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鵡 is specific to parrots, while 鳥 can refer to any bird. For example, saying '我有一只鳥' (Wǒ yǒu yī zhī niǎo) is correct for 'I have a bird,' but if you mean a parrot specifically, use 鵡 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鵡

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Etymology of 鵡

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 武 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵡.

Memory hint

bird

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

Origin

鵡 = 鳥 + 武. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鵡

IDS Structure⿰武鳥
鵡Full character
=
武Wu3
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鵡?

How to say species of parrot in Chinese

“species of parrot” in Chinese is鵡wǔ

The character 鵡 (wǔ) specifically refers to a type of parrot, often characterized by their bright colors and ability to mimic sounds. This word is commonly used in discussions about pets, wildlife, and avian species, reflecting a fascination with these intelligent birds. In a broader context, it can also symbolize playfulness and social interaction.

When to use 鵡

Learners often confuse 鵡 with other bird-related characters, so it’s important to remember that 鵡 specifically refers to parrots. It is generally used in a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it as wǔ instead of the correct tone can lead to confusion with entirely different words.

鵡 or something close to it

鹦鹉 (yīngwǔ) vs 鵡 (wǔ): Use 鵡 when referring to a specific type of parrot, while 鹦鹉 is a more general term for parrots.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鵡 with 鳥 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鵡 is specific to parrots, while 鳥 can refer to any bird. For example, saying '我有一只鳥' (Wǒ yǒu yī zhī niǎo) is correct for 'I have a bird,' but if you mean a parrot specifically, use 鵡 instead.

Write 鵡

鵡

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

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Word Family of 鵡

Words containing this character5
鹦鹉parrot鸚鵡
鹉wǔparrot鵡
鹦鹉螺nautilus鸚鵡螺
鹦鹉学舌to parrot鸚鵡學舌
鹦鹉热psittacosis鸚鵡熱
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鵡

What does 鹦鹉 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鵡

It is pronounced as wǔ, with a falling tone.

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