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鵲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鵲quèmagpie; Pica species (various)x, 19 strokes, radical 鳥
què(que4)que T4
  1. 1magpie; Pica species (various)
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March 24, 2026

鵲què(que4)

The character 鵲 (què) refers to a type of bird known as the magpie, which is often associated with good fortune and happiness in Chinese culture. It is commonly used in idiomatic expressions and symbolism, representing joy and good news, particularly during celebrations like the Lunar New Year.

Strokes19Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the magpie is celebrated for its role in folklore, particularly in the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, where magpies form a bridge to reunite lovers. This highlights its association with happiness and love.

Memory tip

Imagine a cheerful magpie (què) perched on a branch, its black and white feathers shining in the sunlight. The character 鵲 has a bird radical (鳥) on the top, reminding you of its avian nature, while the bottom resembles a person (𠂇) joyfully celebrating good news.

Meanings of 鵲

què(que4)
1magpie; Pica species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鵲

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

Podcast: 鵲

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Podcast: 鵲

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AI study notes for 鵲

Quick Contrast

喜鹊 (xǐquè) vs 鵲 (què) — use 喜鹊 when specifically referring to the magpie as a symbol of joy, while 鵲 is a more general term for the bird.

Usage Notes

When using 鵲, it’s important to note that it is more formal and literary in tone, often appearing in poetry or idiomatic phrases. Common collocations include 鵲橋 (què qiáo), meaning 'Magpie Bridge', which refers to a romantic story in Chinese folklore. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar bird characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鵲 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other bird-related terms like 鸟 (niǎo, 'bird') and can enrich your understanding of cultural expressions. Focus on its symbolic meanings in various contexts to fully appreciate its usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鵲 with similar characters like 鸟 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鵲 specifically refers to the magpie and has cultural significance, while 鸟 is more generic.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鵲

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Etymology of 鵲

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

Simplified form of 鵲. Phonosemantic compound. 鳥 represents the meaning and 昔 represents the sound. Originally written as 舄.

Memory hint

bird

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

Origin

鵲 = 鳥 + 昔. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鵲

IDS Structure⿰昔鳥
鵲Full character
=
昔Xi1
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鵲?

How to say magpie; Pica species (various) in Chinese

“magpie; Pica species (various)” in Chinese is鵲què

The character 鵲 (què) refers to a type of bird known as the magpie, which is often associated with good fortune and happiness in Chinese culture. It is commonly used in idiomatic expressions and symbolism, representing joy and good news, particularly during celebrations like the Lunar New Year.

When to use 鵲

When using 鵲, it’s important to note that it is more formal and literary in tone, often appearing in poetry or idiomatic phrases. Common collocations include 鵲橋 (què qiáo), meaning 'Magpie Bridge', which refers to a romantic story in Chinese folklore. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar bird characters.

鵲 or something close to it

喜鹊 (xǐquè) vs 鵲 (què) — use 喜鹊 when specifically referring to the magpie as a symbol of joy, while 鵲 is a more general term for the bird.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鵲 with similar characters like 鸟 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鵲 specifically refers to the magpie and has cultural significance, while 鸟 is more generic.

Write 鵲

鵲

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Word Family of 鵲

Words containing this character5
鹊quèmagpie鵲
喜鹊(bird species of China) Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)喜鵲
鹊桥magpie bridge across the Milky Way between Altair and Vega where Cowherd and Weaving maid 牛郎織女|牛郎织女 are allowed an annual meeting鵲橋
扁鹊秦越人[Qín​Yuè​rén] (407-310 BC), Warring States physician known for his medical skills, nicknamed Bian Que after the earliest known Chinese physician allegedly from the 黃帝|黄帝[Huáng​dì] era扁鵲
鹊巢鸠占to reap where one has not sown鵲巢鳩占
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 鵲

What does 鹊 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鵲

鵲 symbolizes happiness and good fortune, often associated with joyful events.

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