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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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'.
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.
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.
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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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 5 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。
cǎo dì shàng yǒu jī zhī yā zǐ 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 zháo.
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。
tā mén wèi féi le é yā。
They fattened up ducks and geese.
8
孩子们去河边喂鸭子和天鹅.
hái zǐ mén qù hé biān wèi yā zǐ hé tiān é.
The children went to feed the ducks and swans.
9
我们去喂小鸭子.
wǒ mén qù wèi xiǎo yā zǐ.
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 zuò xià。
She chose a bench beside the duck pond and sat down.
Cultural Notes for 鸭
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 鸭
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 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.
