HSK 7, n, 16 strokes, radical 隹, rank #11958, Very Hard
雕
diāo
to carve, to engrave; eagle, vulture
HSK 7, n, 16 strokes, radical 隹, rank #11958, Very Hard
雕
diāo
shrewd
HSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, radical 隹, rank #11958, Very Hard
diāo(diao1) T1
1bird of prey
2to carve, to engrave; eagle, vulture
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
雕(彫)diāo(diao1)
The character 雕 (diāo) primarily refers to the act of engraving or carving, often associated with artistic craftsmanship. Additionally, it denotes certain birds of prey, such as eagles and vultures, which symbolize strength and keen vision in Chinese culture. It can also describe a person as shrewd or insightful, echoing the sharpness associated with these birds.
Strokes16Radical隹Frequency#11958DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, eagles and vultures are often seen as symbols of power and vision. The art of engraving (雕刻) has a rich history in China, with many traditional crafts emphasizing the beauty and detail of carved works.
Memory Tip
Imagine a skilled artist meticulously carving an eagle out of stone. The left side of the character 雕 resembles a chisel (亻), representing the act of engraving, while the right side (鸟) shows a bird, linking the character's meaning to both artistry and birds of prey.
Meanings of 雕
diāo(diao1)
1bird of prey
2to carve, to engrave; eagle, vulture
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 雕
雕Simplified
彫Traditional
16Strokes
隹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#11958Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 雕
Podcast: 雕
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AI Study Notes for 雕
Quick Contrast
雕 (diāo) vs刻 (kè) — use 雕 for artistic engraving or carving, while 刻 refers to cutting or carving with precision, often in a more mechanical context.
Usage Notes
When using 雕, be mindful of its context as it can refer to both the action of engraving and the bird itself. Common collocations include 雕刻 (diāokè - to engrave) and 雕塑 (diāosù - sculpture). Make sure to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 雕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other words in the same context, such as 雕刻 (to engrave) and 画 (to paint). Focus on understanding its usage in artistic contexts and as a metaphor for sharpness or cleverness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 雕 with similar characters like 鸟 (bird) due to their visual similarity. Ensure you remember that 雕 specifically pertains to engraving and certain birds of prey, not just any bird.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 雕
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Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 周 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵰.
1The meaning half隹 carries the sense.
2The sound half周 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaybird
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 雕? 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 雕?
Decomposition of 雕
IDS Structure⿰周隹
雕Full Character
=
周Zhou1
left
隹zhui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 雕?
How to say bird of prey in Chinese
“bird of prey” in Chinese is雕diāo
The character 雕 (diāo) primarily refers to the act of engraving or carving, often associated with artistic craftsmanship. Additionally, it denotes certain birds of prey, such as eagles and vultures, which symbolize strength and keen vision in Chinese culture. It can also describe a person as shrewd or insightful, echoing the sharpness associated with these birds.
When to use 雕
When using 雕, be mindful of its context as it can refer to both the action of engraving and the bird itself. Common collocations include 雕刻 (diāokè - to engrave) and 雕塑 (diāosù - sculpture). Make sure to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
雕 or something close to it
雕 (diāo) vs刻 (kè) — use 雕 for artistic engraving or carving, while 刻 refers to cutting or carving with precision, often in a more mechanical context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 雕 with similar characters like 鸟 (bird) due to their visual similarity. Ensure you remember that 雕 specifically pertains to engraving and certain birds of prey, not just any bird.
Write 雕
雕
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Practice writing 雕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 雕
雕 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). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
