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隼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
sǔnfalcon, eagle; an aquiline noseg, 10 strokes, radical 隹, rank #23263, Hard
sǔnTaiwan pr. [zhun3]unknown, 10 strokes, radical 隹, rank #23263, Hard
sǔn(sun3) T3
  1. 1falcon, eagle; an aquiline nose
  2. 2Taiwan pr. [zhun3]
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March 24, 2026
sǔn(sun3)

The character 隼 (sǔn) primarily refers to a falcon or eagle, birds known for their keen eyesight and speed. It can also describe a person with an aquiline nose, drawing a metaphorical connection between the sharp features of the bird and human anatomy. This term is often used in literature and poetry to evoke imagery of swiftness and precision.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#23263DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, falcons symbolize strength and determination, often appearing in poetry to represent a person's ambitions or aspirations. The use of bird imagery is prevalent in traditional Chinese art and literature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a swift falcon soaring in the sky, its sharp beak resembling the '隼' character. The left part '阝' can remind you of a mountain, symbolizing height and elevation, while the right part '小' suggests smallness, as falcons are not as large as eagles but are equally fierce.

Meanings of 隼

sǔn(sun3)
1falcon, eagle; an aquiline nose
2Taiwan pr. [zhun3]
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 隼

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 隼

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AI Study Notes for 隼

Quick Contrast

隼 (sǔn) vs 鷹 (yīng) — use 隼 for smaller, faster falcons, while 鷹 refers to larger eagles.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a swift falcon soaring in the sky, its sharp beak resembling the '隼' character. The left part '阝' can remind you of a mountain, symbolizing height and elevation, while the right part '小' suggests smallness, as falcons are not as large as eagles but are equally fierce.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 隼 (sǔn); mispronouncing it can change the meaning. It is a formal term, often used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include '猛隼' (máng sǔn) meaning 'fierce falcon'.

HSK Study Tips

Though 隼 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other animal names in HSK levels, such as 鸟 (niǎo - bird). Students should focus on recognizing this character in texts about nature and wildlife.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, falcons symbolize strength and determination, often appearing in poetry to represent a person's ambitions or aspirations. The use of bird imagery is prevalent in traditional Chinese art and literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 隼 (sǔn) with similar-sounding characters like 孙 (sūn), which means 'grandson'. Ensure correct pronunciation and context to prevent misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 隼

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Etymology of 隼

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

Pictograph of a falcon.

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 隼?

Decomposition of 隼

IDS Structure⿱隹十
Full Character
=
zhui1
top
shi2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 隼?

Write 隼

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

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Grammar Patterns of 隼

隼 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

游____捕到鸟类猎物时,通常是先拔掉它们的羽毛,再把肉撕下来.

Peregrine falcons usually pluck the feathers and strip the flesh off their bird prey.

Example Sentences for 隼 (1)

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1
游隼捕到鸟类猎物时,通常是先拔掉它们的羽毛,再把肉撕下来.

yóu sǔn bǔ dào niǎo lèi liè wù shí, , tōng cháng shì xiān bá diào tā mén de yǔ, máo , zài bǎ ròu sī.

Peregrine falcons usually pluck the feathers and strip the flesh off their bird prey.

Cultural Notes for 隼

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, falcons symbolize strength and determination, often appearing in poetry to represent a person's ambitions or aspirations. The use of bird imagery is prevalent in traditional Chinese art and literature.

Word Family of 隼

Words Containing This Character1
sǔnfalcon
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 隼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 隼

鸟 (niǎo) is a general term for 'bird', while 隼 (sǔn) specifically refers to a type of bird, namely a falcon or eagle.