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鹊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹊quèmagpie; Pica species (various)ng, 13 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #38136, Very Hard
què(que4) T4
  1. 1magpie; Pica species (various)
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March 24, 2026
鹊(鵲)què(que4)

The character 鹊 (què) refers to a magpie, a bird known for its intelligence and distinct black and white plumage. In Chinese culture, magpies are often associated with good luck and joy, especially during celebrations. They are also featured in various idioms and folklore, symbolizing happiness and good news.

Strokes13Radical鸟Frequency#38136DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the arrival of magpies is believed to signal the arrival of good fortune or happiness, especially during the Lunar New Year. There are traditional paintings depicting magpies that are considered auspicious.

Memory Tip

Imagine a magpie (què) perched on a tree singing joyfully, its black and white feathers resembling a yin-yang symbol, symbolizing harmony. The pronunciation 'què' sounds like 'quick' – think of how quickly a magpie flits from branch to branch.

Meanings of 鹊

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹊

鹊Simplified
鵲Traditional
13Strokes
鸟Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹊

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Podcast: 鹊

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AI Study Notes for 鹊

Quick Contrast

喜鹊 (xǐquè) - Specifically refers to the spotted magpie, often associated with happiness; use 鹊 (què) for general references to magpies.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a magpie (què) perched on a tree singing joyfully, its black and white feathers resembling a yin-yang symbol, symbolizing harmony. The pronunciation 'què' sounds like 'quick' – think of how quickly a magpie flits from branch to branch.

Usage Notes

When using 鹊, be mindful of its positive connotations in contexts like festivals or weddings. Common phrases include '喜鹊' (xǐquè) meaning 'happy magpie.' A common mistake is confusing 鹊 with other birds; ensure you use it specifically for magpies.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹊 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it may appear in advanced reading materials discussing nature or culture. Students should focus on recognizing it in idiomatic expressions, especially those related to fortune.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the arrival of magpies is believed to signal the arrival of good fortune or happiness, especially during the Lunar New Year. There are traditional paintings depicting magpies that are considered auspicious.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鹊 with other bird characters such as 鸟 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember, 鹊 specifically refers to magpies, not just any bird.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹊

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Etymology of 鹊

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鹊?

Decomposition of 鹊

IDS Structure⿰昔鸟
鹊Full Character
=
昔Xi1
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹊?

Write 鹊

鹊

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

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Grammar Patterns of 鹊

鹊 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

树____, 好野露营区,都兰, 台东.

Gray Tree Pie , Good Field camping area, Dulan, Taitung.

Example Sentences for 鹊 (1)

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1
树鹊, 好野露营区,都兰, 台东.

shù què, , hǎo yě lòu yíng, qū ,, dū lán.

Gray Tree Pie , Good Field camping area, Dulan, Taitung.

Cultural Notes for 鹊

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the arrival of magpies is believed to signal the arrival of good fortune or happiness, especially during the Lunar New Year. There are traditional paintings depicting magpies that are considered auspicious.

Word Family of 鹊

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

Compound Meaning

What does 鹊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹊

鹊 symbolizes good luck and joy, often associated with celebrations.