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鹕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹕húpelicanx, 14 strokes, radical 鸟
hú(hu2)hu T2
  1. 1pelican
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March 24, 2026

鹕(鶘)hú(hu2)

The character 鹕 (hú) refers specifically to a pelican, a large waterbird known for its distinctive long beak and throat pouch used for catching fish. This term is often used in literary contexts or when discussing wildlife, particularly in relation to their habitats and behaviors.

Strokes14Radical鸟
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, pelicans are often associated with rivers and lakes, reflecting the importance of water in traditional Chinese poetry and art. They symbolize grace and adaptability in their natural environments.

Memory tip

Imagine a large, happy pelican with a big pouch (the character's radical 鳥, meaning bird, hints at its avian nature) swooping down to catch fish in a lake. The sound 'hú' can remind you of the sound of a pelican's splash as it dives, helping you remember both the character and its pronunciation.

Meanings of 鹕

hú(hu2)
1pelican
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鹕

鹕Simplified
鶘Traditional
14Strokes
鸟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 鹕

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AI study notes for 鹕

Usage Notes

While 鹕 is not commonly used in daily conversation, it may appear in literature, nature documentaries, or discussions about bird species. Be aware of the formal context in which this word is used; it doesn't typically appear in casual speech, and learners may confuse it with similar bird names like 鴨 (yā, duck).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹕 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can enrich your understanding of animal-related vocabulary. Focus on the radicals and structure of animal names to build connections with other HSK words, such as 鸟 (niǎo, bird) and 魚 (yú, fish).

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鹕 with other bird characters due to their similar appearances. For example, mixing it up with 鸭 (yā, duck) is common; remember that 鹕 specifically refers to a pelican, which is much larger and has a distinctive beak.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹕

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Etymology of 鹕

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 胡 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鶘.

Memory hint

bird

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

Origin

鹕 = 鸟 + 胡. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鹕

IDS Structure⿰胡鸟
鹕Full character
=
胡Hu2
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鹕?

How to say pelican in Chinese

“pelican” in Chinese is鹕hú

The character 鹕 (hú) refers specifically to a pelican, a large waterbird known for its distinctive long beak and throat pouch used for catching fish. This term is often used in literary contexts or when discussing wildlife, particularly in relation to their habitats and behaviors.

When to use 鹕

While 鹕 is not commonly used in daily conversation, it may appear in literature, nature documentaries, or discussions about bird species. Be aware of the formal context in which this word is used; it doesn't typically appear in casual speech, and learners may confuse it with similar bird names like 鴨 (yā, duck).

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鹕 with other bird characters due to their similar appearances. For example, mixing it up with 鸭 (yā, duck) is common; remember that 鹕 specifically refers to a pelican, which is much larger and has a distinctive beak.

Write 鹕

鹕

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

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Word Family of 鹕

Words containing this character2
鹈鹕pelican鵜鶘
鹕húpelican鶘
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 鹕

What does 鹈鹕 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鹕

It is pronounced as 'hú'.

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