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鴛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鴛yuānmale mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)x, 16 strokes, radical 鳥
yuān(yuan1)yuan T1
  1. 1male mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
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March 24, 2026

鴛yuān(yuan1)

The character 鴛 (yuān) refers specifically to the male mandarin duck, known for its vibrant colors and distinctive appearance. This bird is often associated with love and fidelity in Chinese culture, making it a popular symbol in poetry and art. It is commonly used in idioms and expressions relating to romantic relationships.

Strokes16Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, mandarin ducks are symbols of love and fidelity, often depicted in art and literature as a pair, representing marital bliss. This association makes 鴛 a common character in phrases celebrating love and companionship.

Memory tip

Think of the character 鴛 as a duck in a colorful pond, where 'yuān' sounds like 'yawn' as if the duck is yawning with its beautiful feathers on display. The '鴛' resembles a duck with its rounded top, emphasizing its aquatic nature, while the radical 鳥 (bird) highlights that it belongs to the avian family.

Meanings of 鴛

yuān(yuan1)
1male mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鴛

鴛Simplified
16Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鴛

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Podcast: 鴛

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AI study notes for 鴛

Quick Contrast

鸳 (yuān) — use 鴛 (yuān) when specifically referring to the male mandarin duck, while 鸳 (yuān) can refer to both male and female mandarin ducks.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 鴛 with other bird-related characters that may refer to different species. This term is more poetic and often used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. It is also important to use the correct tone; 鴛 is pronounced with a first tone (yuān).

HSK Study Tips

While 鴛 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other animal-related characters. Students should focus on recognizing the components and radicals associated with birds, such as 鳥, as it will help with understanding similar terms. Understanding this character can enrich your vocabulary related to nature and wildlife.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鴛 with the female counterpart character 鴦 (yāng), which is used for the female mandarin duck. To avoid this, remember that 鴛 (yuān) specifically refers to the male, so always check the context when discussing mandarin ducks.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鴛

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Etymology of 鴛

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 夗 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鴛.

Memory hint

bird

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

Origin

鴛 = 鳥 + 夗. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鴛

IDS Structure⿱夗鳥
鴛Full character
=
夗yuan4
top
鳥niao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鴛?

How to say male mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) in Chinese

“male mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)” in Chinese is鴛yuān

The character 鴛 (yuān) refers specifically to the male mandarin duck, known for its vibrant colors and distinctive appearance. This bird is often associated with love and fidelity in Chinese culture, making it a popular symbol in poetry and art. It is commonly used in idioms and expressions relating to romantic relationships.

When to use 鴛

Be careful not to confuse 鴛 with other bird-related characters that may refer to different species. This term is more poetic and often used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. It is also important to use the correct tone; 鴛 is pronounced with a first tone (yuān).

鴛 or something close to it

鸳 (yuān) — use 鴛 (yuān) when specifically referring to the male mandarin duck, while 鸳 (yuān) can refer to both male and female mandarin ducks.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鴛 with the female counterpart character 鴦 (yāng), which is used for the female mandarin duck. To avoid this, remember that 鴛 (yuān) specifically refers to the male, so always check the context when discussing mandarin ducks.

Write 鴛

鴛

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

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Word Family of 鴛

Words containing this character4
鸳鸯(fig.) affectionate couple鴛鴦
鸳yuānmandarin duck鴛
鸳鸯戏水fig. to make love鴛鴦戲水
野鸳鸯wild mandarin duck野鴛鴦
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鴛

What does 鸳鸯 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鴛

It symbolizes love and fidelity, often depicted alongside its female counterpart to represent a harmonious relationship.

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