Meanings of 鳥
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About 鳥
Podcast: 鳥
Podcast: 鳥
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AI Study Notes for 鳥
雀 (què) - use 鳥 (niǎo) for general references to birds, while 雀 (què) specifically refers to smaller birds, like sparrows.
Be careful not to confuse 鳥 (niǎo) with similar characters like 魚 (yú, fish) or 嬉 (xī, play), as these can lead to misunderstandings. This word is generally informal, but can also be used in literary contexts. Common collocations include 鳥類 (niǎolèi, bird species) and 鳥巢 (niǎocháo, bird's nest).
Though 鳥 (niǎo) is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other animal-related words. Learners should focus on the phonetic component and practice using it in simple sentences about animals to build vocabulary.
Learners often mispronounce 鳥 as 'niao' instead of the correct 'niǎo' with the third tone. Another common mistake is using it in situations where a specific bird name is required, such as saying '我看到一隻鳥' (I saw a bird) instead of specifying the type.
Pronunciation of 鳥
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Etymology of 鳥
Simplified form of 鳥. Pictograph of a bird.
A bird
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 鳥
Simplified form of 鳥. Pictograph of a bird.
- 1The giveawayA bird
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 鳥? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 鳥
Identify the Components
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How to say bird in Chinese
“bird” in Chinese is鳥
The character 鳥 (niǎo) means 'bird' in Mandarin. It refers to any avian creature and is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. This character is also often used in idiomatic expressions and proverbs related to freedom or nature.
When to use 鳥
Be careful not to confuse 鳥 (niǎo) with similar characters like 魚 (yú, fish) or 嬉 (xī, play), as these can lead to misunderstandings. This word is generally informal, but can also be used in literary contexts. Common collocations include 鳥類 (niǎolèi, bird species) and 鳥巢 (niǎocháo, bird's nest).
鳥 or something close to it
雀 (què) - use 鳥 (niǎo) for general references to birds, while 雀 (què) specifically refers to smaller birds, like sparrows.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 鳥 as 'niao' instead of the correct 'niǎo' with the third tone. Another common mistake is using it in situations where a specific bird name is required, such as saying '我看到一隻鳥' (I saw a bird) instead of specifying the type.
Write 鳥
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Practice writing 鳥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 鳥
Compound Meaning
What does 鸟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鳥
It is pronounced as 'niǎo'.
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