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隺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
隺húflying high; ambitionx, 10 strokes, radical 隹
hú(hu2) T2
  1. 1flying high; ambition
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

隺hú(hu2)

The character 隺 (hú) conveys the idea of flying high or having lofty ambitions. It often describes a state of aspiration, suggesting not just physical elevation but also the pursuit of high goals and dreams in life. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can be found in literary or poetic contexts.

Strokes10Radical隹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of having high ambitions is often linked to traditions of scholarship and personal development, with historical figures celebrated for their lofty goals and achievements, reflecting the value placed on aspiration.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bird soaring high in the sky, representing lofty ambitions. The character 隺 is composed of the radical for 'mountain' (山) on the bottom, which symbolizes height, and a component that suggests movement upwards, connecting its form to the idea of flying high.

Meanings of 隺

hú(hu2)
1flying high; ambition
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 隺

隺Simplified
10Strokes
隹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 隺

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Podcast: 隺

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AI Study Notes for 隺

Usage Notes

This character is relatively rare and may not be immediately recognized by all Mandarin speakers. It is more often found in literary works rather than in everyday speech, so it's considered somewhat formal. Be cautious of the tone; the pronunciation 'hú' must maintain the proper rising tone.

HSK Study Tips

As 隺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, learners at any level should focus on understanding its components and context in literature. It can be helpful to relate it to more common words associated with ambition or aspirations, such as 志向 (zhìxiàng) or 追求 (zhuīqiú).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 隺 with more common characters related to ambition, such as 志 (zhì). For example, using 志 instead of 隺 can change the meaning from a specific notion of soaring ambition to a more general goal. Always check the context to ensure accuracy.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 隺

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Etymology of 隺

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A bird 隹 flying close to the ceiling 冖

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 隺

  1. 1The giveawayA bird 隹 flying close to the ceiling 冖
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 隺? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 隺?

Decomposition of 隺

IDS Structure⿱冖隹
隺Full Character
=
冖mi4
top
隹zhui1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 隺?

How to say flying high; ambition in Chinese

“flying high; ambition” in Chinese is隺hú

The character 隺 (hú) conveys the idea of flying high or having lofty ambitions. It often describes a state of aspiration, suggesting not just physical elevation but also the pursuit of high goals and dreams in life. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can be found in literary or poetic contexts.

When to use 隺

This character is relatively rare and may not be immediately recognized by all Mandarin speakers. It is more often found in literary works rather than in everyday speech, so it's considered somewhat formal. Be cautious of the tone; the pronunciation 'hú' must maintain the proper rising tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 隺 with more common characters related to ambition, such as 志 (zhì). For example, using 志 instead of 隺 can change the meaning from a specific notion of soaring ambition to a more general goal. Always check the context to ensure accuracy.

Write 隺

隺

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 隺

While it primarily means 'flying high' or 'ambition', in poetic contexts, it can connote dreams and aspirations, often associated with success.

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