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March 24, 2026
鴿gē(ge1)
The character 鴿 (gē) refers to a pigeon or dove, commonly associated with peace and communication. It is often used in contexts related to nature, wildlife, and symbolic representations of love and harmony.
Strokes17Radical鳥Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, doves are often symbols of peace, love, and fidelity, making them significant in weddings and celebrations. The image of a dove is frequently used in art and literature to convey these themes.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful dove gliding through the sky, its wings resembling the character 鴿. The left side of the character represents a bird, while the right side can remind you of 'ge' in its soft, gentle sound, just like the cooing of a dove.
Meanings of 鴿
gē(ge1)
1pigeon, dove; Columba species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鴿
鴿Simplified
17Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鴿
Podcast: 鴿
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AI Study Notes for 鴿
Quick Contrast
鸽 (gē) vs 鸟 (niǎo) — use 鴿 when specifically referring to doves or pigeons, while 鸟 is a general term for birds.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a graceful dove gliding through the sky, its wings resembling the character 鴿. The left side of the character represents a bird, while the right side can remind you of 'ge' in its soft, gentle sound, just like the cooing of a dove.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鴿 with similar characters that depict other birds. This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts but may appear more often in literary or poetic language. Common collocations include 鴿子 (gēzi) for 'pigeon' and phrases related to peace.
HSK Study Tips
Although 鴿 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other animal-related words you'll encounter, such as 鸟 (niǎo) for 'bird'. Focus on the pronunciation and writing of characters related to animals to enhance recognition.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, doves are often symbols of peace, love, and fidelity, making them significant in weddings and celebrations. The image of a dove is frequently used in art and literature to convey these themes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鴿 with other bird characters, such as 鸥 (ōu, 'seagull'). Make sure to remember that 鴿 specifically refers to pigeons and doves. Another mistake is mispronouncing the tone; remember it is 'gē' with a high tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鴿
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Cultural Notes for 鴿
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, doves are often symbols of peace, love, and fidelity, making them significant in weddings and celebrations. The image of a dove is frequently used in art and literature to convey these themes.
Word Family of 鴿
Words Containing This Character10
鸽子gēzipigeon鴿子
鸽gēpigeon鴿
信鸽homing pigeon信鴿
放鸽子to stand someone up放鴿子
飞鸽Flying Pigeon (famous bicycle brand, made in Tianjin since 1936)飛鴿
和平鸽dove of peace和平鴿
鹁鸽pigeon鵓鴿
岩鸽(bird species of China) hill pigeon (Columba rupestris)岩鴿
原鸽(bird species of China) rock dove (Columba livia)原鴿
传书鸽carrier pigeon (used for mail)傳書鴿
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鸽子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鴿
While 鴿 specifically means 'pigeon' or 'dove', 鸟 is a general term for 'bird' and can refer to any avian species.
The pronunciation is 'gē', with a high-level tone. Practice saying it with a clear, even sound.
Yes, you can find phrases like 鴿子心 (gēzi xīn) which refers to someone with a gentle and kind heart.
