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鹫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹫jiùcondor, vulturens, 17 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #46771, Very Hard
jiù(jiu4)jiu T4
  1. 1condor, vulture
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March 24, 2026

鹫(鷲)jiù(jiu4)

The character 鹫 (jiù) refers to a large bird of prey, specifically a condor or vulture. It is often used in literary contexts to symbolize scavenging or death due to the bird's feeding habits, and can also imply a sense of foreboding or danger in Chinese culture.

Strokes17Radical鸟Frequency#46771DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the vulture symbolizes a connection to the afterlife and is often depicted in art and literature as a harbinger of death, reflecting the belief in the cycle of life and death.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant vulture soaring high in the sky, its wings spread wide like the character 鹫. The top part resembles the wings, while the bottom part suggests a sharp beak ready to scavenge. Picture the vulture's call as a reminder of its name, 'jiù,' echoing in the mountains.

Meanings of 鹫

jiù(jiu4)
1condor, vulture
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 鹫 means.

About 鹫

鹫Simplified
鷲Traditional
17Strokes
鸟Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹫

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Podcast: 鹫

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AI Study Notes for 鹫

Usage Notes

This word is typically used in formal or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with other birds like 鳥 (niǎo, bird) or 隼 (sǔn, falcon), which have different meanings. Also, the tone 'jiù' (4th tone) is crucial; mispronouncing it can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though 鹫 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to themes of wildlife and nature commonly explored in HSK Level 4 and above. Focus on recognizing the character in reading passages related to animals or nature, enhancing your vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鹫 with other bird characters such as 鳥 (niǎo) due to the similar appearance. Ensure you remember that 鹫 specifically refers to vultures and condors, while 鳥 is a more general term for birds.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹫

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Etymology of 鹫

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 就 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鷲.

Memory Hint

bird

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

Origin

鹫 = 鸟 + 就. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鹫

IDS Structure⿱就鸟
鹫Full Character
=
就jiu4
top
鸟diao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鹫?

How to say condor, vulture in Chinese

“condor, vulture” in Chinese is鹫jiù

The character 鹫 (jiù) refers to a large bird of prey, specifically a condor or vulture. It is often used in literary contexts to symbolize scavenging or death due to the bird's feeding habits, and can also imply a sense of foreboding or danger in Chinese culture.

When to use 鹫

This word is typically used in formal or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with other birds like 鳥 (niǎo, bird) or 隼 (sǔn, falcon), which have different meanings. Also, the tone 'jiù' (4th tone) is crucial; mispronouncing it can change its meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鹫 with other bird characters such as 鳥 (niǎo) due to the similar appearance. Ensure you remember that 鹫 specifically refers to vultures and condors, while 鳥 is a more general term for birds.

Write 鹫

鹫

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

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Grammar Patterns of 鹫

鹫 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

一群秃____蹲伏在一具野牛的尸体上。

A cluster of vultures crouched on the carcass of a dead buffalo.

Example Sentences for 鹫 (1)

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1
一群秃鹫蹲伏在一具野牛的尸体上。

yī qún tū jiù dūn fú zài yī jù yě niú de shī tǐ shàng。

A cluster of vultures crouched on the carcass of a dead buffalo.

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Word Family of 鹫

Words Containing This Character3
鹫jiùvulture鷲
秃鹫vulture禿鷲
兀鹫vulture兀鷲
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 鹫

What does 秃鹫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹫

No, 鹫 is more often found in literary texts or discussions about wildlife rather than in everyday speech.

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