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鸭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
鸭
yā
duck
ns, 10 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #7257, Hard
鸭
yā
male prostitute (slang)
ns, 10 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #7257, Hard
鸭
yā
duck; Anas species (various)
ns, 10 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #7257, Hard
鸭
yā
(slang) male prostitute
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #7257, Hard
yā(ya1)ya T1
1duck
2male prostitute (slang)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
鸭(鴨)yā(ya1)
The character 鸭 (yā) primarily means 'duck' and is commonly used in both culinary and conversational contexts in Chinese. It refers to various species of ducks and can also be used informally to denote male prostitutes, reflecting a slang usage that is less formal and more localized.
Strokes10Radical鸟Frequency#7257DifficultyHard
Cultural note
Duck is a popular dish in Chinese cuisine, most notably in Peking Duck (北京鸭), which is celebrated for its crispy skin and rich flavor, often served during special occasions and banquets.
Memory tip
Imagine a duck quacking 'yā' as it waddles along a pond. The character 鸭 resembles a duck on water with its rounded shape and can help you picture this cheerful bird when you hear 'yā'.
Meanings of 鸭
yā(ya1)
1duck
2male prostitute (slang)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 鸭 means.
About 鸭
鸭Simplified
鴨Traditional
10Strokes
鸟Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#7257Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
Podcast: 鸭
Podcast: 鸭
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AI study notes for 鸭
Quick Contrast
鸭 (duck) vs 鴨 (yā, traditional form) — use 鸭 for simplified characters and modern contexts.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鸭 with the similar-sounding character 牙 (yá), which means 'tooth'. In a culinary context, it's often paired with words like '烤' (kǎo, to roast) to describe dishes, such as '烤鸭' (kǎo yā, roasted duck).
HSK Study Tips
Although 鸭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it's useful for learners at HSK 2 and above, especially in food-related contexts. Students should also explore related words like 鸭子 (yāzi, duckling) to expand their vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 鸭 as 'yá', using the wrong tone. Remember to use the first tone: 'yā'. Additionally, some may confuse it with the character 牙 (tooth) due to similar pronunciation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鸭
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 鸭 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
鸭 = 鸟 + 甲. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鸭
IDS Structure⿰甲鸟
鸭Full character
=
甲jia3
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 鸭?
How to say duck in Chinese
“duck” in Chinese is鸭yā
The character 鸭 (yā) primarily means 'duck' and is commonly used in both culinary and conversational contexts in Chinese. It refers to various species of ducks and can also be used informally to denote male prostitutes, reflecting a slang usage that is less formal and more localized.
When to use 鸭
Be careful not to confuse 鸭 with the similar-sounding character 牙 (yá), which means 'tooth'. In a culinary context, it's often paired with words like '烤' (kǎo, to roast) to describe dishes, such as '烤鸭' (kǎo yā, roasted duck).
鸭 or something close to it
鸭 (duck) vs 鴨 (yā, traditional form) — use 鸭 for simplified characters and modern contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 鸭 as 'yá', using the wrong tone. Remember to use the first tone: 'yā'. Additionally, some may confuse it with the character 牙 (tooth) due to similar pronunciation.
Write 鸭
鸭
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Practice writing 鸭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 鸭
鸭 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Not since 1988 had she whitewashed an opponent in her opening match.
4
草地上有几只鸭子在嘎嘎叫。
cǎodì shàng yǒu jǐ zhī yāzi zài gā gā jiào。
There were ducks quacking on the lawn.
5
小鸭咻咻地叫着.
xiǎo yā xiū xiū dì jiào zhe.
The ducklings are cheeping.
6
我弄来一只公鸭和三只母鸭。
wǒ nòng lái yī zhī gōng yā hé sān zhī mǔ yā。
I brought in one drake and three ducks.
7
他们喂肥了鹅鸭。
tāmen wèi féi le é yā。
They fattened up ducks and geese.
8
孩子们去河边喂鸭子和天鹅.
háizi men qù hé biān wèi yāzi hé tiān’é.
The children went to feed the ducks and swans.
9
我们去喂小鸭子.
wǒmen qù wèi xiǎo yāzi.
We're going to feed the duckling.
10
她在鸭塘边找了条长椅坐下。
tā zài yā táng biān zhǎo le tiáo cháng yǐ zuòxia。
She chose a bench beside the duck pond and sat down.
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Word Family of 鸭
Words containing this character20
鸭yāduck鴨
鸭子yāziduck鴨子
鸭梨yālíChinese white pear (Pyrus × bretschneideri)鴨梨
烤鸭kǎoyāroast duck烤鴨
野鸭yěyāwild duck野鴨
唐老鸭tánglǎoyāDonald Duck唐老鴨
鸭绿江yālùjiāngYalu River, forming part of the China-Korea border鴨綠江
鸭舌帽yāshémàopeaked cap鴨舌帽
板鸭bǎnyāpressed (dried) salted duck板鴨
鸭嘴兽yāzuǐshòuplatypus鴨嘴獸
北京烤鸭běijīngkǎoyāPeking Duck北京烤鴨
旱鸭子hànyāzinon-swimmer旱鴨子
填鸭式tiányāshìforce feeding (as a teaching method)填鴨式
双鸭山shuāngyāshānShuangyashan prefecture level city in Heilongjiang province 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hēilóngjiāng] in northeast China雙鴨山
鸭掌yāzhǎngduck feet (claws)鴨掌
赶鸭子上架gǎnyāzishàngjiàlit. to drive a duck onto a perch (idiom)趕鴨子上架
双鸭山市shuāngyāshānshìShuangyashan prefecture level city in Heilongjiang province 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hēilóngjiāng] in northeast China雙鴨山市
填鸭tiányāto force-feed ducks填鴨
家鸭jiāyādomestic duck家鴨
吃鸭蛋chīyādàn(fig.) to score 0 (on a test, in competition etc)吃鴨蛋
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 鸭
What does 鸭子 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 鸭
The measure word for 鸭 (yā) is 隻 (zhī), which is typically used for counting birds and certain animals. For example, you would say '一隻鸭' (yī zhī yā) to mean 'one duck.'
Yes, 鸭 (yā) is also used as slang to refer to a male prostitute in Chinese. This usage is more informal and should be understood within the right context to avoid misunderstandings.
鸭 (yā) primarily means 'duck' in Chinese, referring to the bird commonly found in various cuisines. Additionally, it can be used as slang to refer to a male prostitute. The character is classified under the measure word 隻 (zhī), which is used to count animals.
To use 鸭 (yā) in a sentence, you could say '我喜欢吃鸭' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī yā), which means 'I like to eat duck.' It's important to understand the context, as it can also have a slang meaning, so be cautious when using it in conversation.
鸭 (yā) refers to duck, while 鸡 (jī) refers to chicken. They are different types of poultry commonly used in Chinese cooking.
Yes, in some contexts, 鸭 can refer to male prostitutes, particularly in informal conversations.
It is pronounced as 'yā', with a high level tone. Practice saying it with emphasis to get the tone right.
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