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鷲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鷲jiùcondor, vulturex, 23 strokes, radical 鳥
jiù(jiu4)jiu T4
  1. 1condor, vulture
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March 24, 2026

鷲jiù(jiu4)

The character 鷲 (jiù) refers to a type of large bird of prey, specifically a condor or vulture. It is often used in contexts related to wildlife, nature, or discussions about birds of prey, highlighting its majestic and powerful characteristics.

Strokes23Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, birds of prey like the 鷲 are often associated with strength and dominance. They are sometimes featured in folklore and literature, symbolizing power and freedom.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant bird soaring high in the sky, its sharp beak and powerful wings resembling an eagle (the radical 鳥 indicates it's a bird). The sound 'jiù' can be remembered by thinking of 'juicy' as this bird feeds on carrion, making it a 'juicy' part of the ecosystem.

Meanings of 鷲

jiù(jiu4)
1condor, vulture
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鷲

鷲Simplified
23Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鷲

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Podcast: 鷲

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AI study notes for 鷲

Quick Contrast

鷲 (jiù, condor/vulture) vs 老鹰 (lǎoyīng, eagle) — use 鷲 when referring specifically to condors or vultures, while 老鹰 refers to eagles, which are distinct species.

Usage Notes

This character is less common in everyday conversation, typically appearing in written texts about nature or wildlife. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is critical, as 'jiù' (鷲) differs from 'jǐu' (酒, meaning 'alcohol').

HSK Study Tips

While 鷲 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with level 3 or 4 vocabulary related to animals. Students should focus on the radicals and tones to help differentiate it from other animal-related words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鷲 with similar characters like 鳥 (bird) or 鷹 (hawk). Remember that 鷲 specifically refers to vultures or condors, while the others have different meanings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鷲

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Etymology of 鷲

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 就 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鷲.

Memory hint

bird

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

Origin

鷲 = 鳥 + 就. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鷲

IDS Structure⿱就鳥
鷲Full character
=
就jiu4
top
鳥niao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鷲?

How to say condor, vulture in Chinese

“condor, vulture” in Chinese is鷲jiù

The character 鷲 (jiù) refers to a type of large bird of prey, specifically a condor or vulture. It is often used in contexts related to wildlife, nature, or discussions about birds of prey, highlighting its majestic and powerful characteristics.

When to use 鷲

This character is less common in everyday conversation, typically appearing in written texts about nature or wildlife. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is critical, as 'jiù' (鷲) differs from 'jǐu' (酒, meaning 'alcohol').

鷲 or something close to it

鷲 (jiù, condor/vulture) vs 老鹰 (lǎoyīng, eagle) — use 鷲 when referring specifically to condors or vultures, while 老鹰 refers to eagles, which are distinct species.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鷲 with similar characters like 鳥 (bird) or 鷹 (hawk). Remember that 鷲 specifically refers to vultures or condors, while the others have different meanings.

Write 鷲

鷲

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

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Cultural Notes for 鷲

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, vultures are often seen as scavengers with a negative connotation, while in China, they can represent resilience and the cycle of life.

Word Family of 鷲

Words containing this character3
鹫jiùvulture鷲
秃鹫vulture禿鷲
兀鹫vulture兀鷲
Exercise 1 of 3

Characters with 鷲

What does 鹫 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鷲

The correct pronunciation is 'jiù', with a falling tone.

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