Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鹦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yīngparrotn, 16 strokes, radical 鸟, Very Hard
yīng(ying1) T1
  1. 1parrot
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(鸚)yīng(ying1)

The character 鹦 (yīng) refers to a parrot, a colorful bird known for its ability to mimic sounds and speech. In Chinese, this word is often used in contexts related to pets, nature, and discussions about birds. It carries a playful and lively connotation, emphasizing the parrot's vibrant personality.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, keeping birds, especially parrots, as pets is popular, and they are often seen as symbols of joy and communication due to their mimicking abilities. Parrots can also be featured in art and literature, symbolizing vibrant life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright green parrot sitting on a branch, yelling 'Ying!' to everyone passing by. The character 鹦 has a bird radical (鸟) at the bottom, which helps you remember it’s related to birds, while the top part resembles feathers, enhancing the imagery of a colorful parrot.

Meanings of 鹦

yīng(ying1)
1parrot
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹦

Simplified
Traditional
16Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹦

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鹦

Quick Contrast

鹦 (yīng) vs 鸚 (yìng) — use 鹦 for the common parrot, while 鸚 can refer to specific species or contexts.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bright green parrot sitting on a branch, yelling 'Ying!' to everyone passing by. The character 鹦 has a bird radical (鸟) at the bottom, which helps you remember it’s related to birds, while the top part resembles feathers, enhancing the imagery of a colorful parrot.

Usage Notes

Be careful with pronunciation, as mispronouncing yīng could lead to confusion with other words. This term is generally informal and is used in everyday conversations about pets or wildlife. It often appears in phrases related to birds, such as 鹦鹉 (yīngwǔ) for 'parakeet', which might help in expanding vocabulary.

HSK Study Tips

Though 鹦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to topics about animals, which are common at lower levels. Students should focus on the character's structure and its relation to other bird-related vocabulary to enhance their understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, keeping birds, especially parrots, as pets is popular, and they are often seen as symbols of joy and communication due to their mimicking abilities. Parrots can also be featured in art and literature, symbolizing vibrant life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鹦 (yīng) with other bird-related terms due to similar sounds or characters. For example, confusing it with 鸟 (niǎo) can lead to incorrect usage; make sure to use 鹦 when specifically referring to parrots.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹦

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 鹦

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

bird

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鹦?

Decomposition of 鹦

IDS Structure⿰婴鸟
Full Character
=
ying1
left
diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹦?

Write 鹦

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 鹦

鹦 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 4

Complete the Sentence

一群绿____鹉从杉木林里疾速飞出。

A flight of green parrots shot out of the cedar forest.

Example Sentences for 鹦 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一群绿鹦鹉从杉木林里疾速飞出。

yī qún lǜ yīng wǔ cóng shān mù lín lǐ jí sù fēi chū。

A flight of green parrots shot out of the cedar forest.
2
鹦鹉尖声叫了叫飞走了。

yīng wǔ jiān shēng jiào le jiào fēi zǒu le。

The parrot squawked and flew away.
3
鹦鹉听后立刻急促地叫道:“八个 里亚尔!

yīng wǔ tīng hòu lì kè jí cù dì jiào dào:“ :“ bā gè lǐ!

And the parrot would say , with great rapidity ,'Pieces of eight!
4
鹦鹉把我的手指?得很疼.

yīng wǔ bǎ wǒ de shǒu zhǐ? ? dé hěn.

The parrot gave me a sharp peck on the finger.

Cultural Notes for 鹦

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, keeping birds, especially parrots, as pets is popular, and they are often seen as symbols of joy and communication due to their mimicking abilities. Parrots can also be featured in art and literature, symbolizing vibrant life.

Word Family of 鹦

Words Containing This Character5
鹦鹉parrot鸚鵡
yīngparrot
鹦鹉螺nautilus鸚鵡螺
鹦鹉学舌to parrot鸚鵡學舌
鹦鹉热psittacosis鸚鵡熱
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 鹦鹉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹦

鹦 refers specifically to parrots, while 鹦鹉 (yīngwǔ) refers more generally to parakeets and can include various types of small parrots.