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鵂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鵂xiūhorned owl, scops chinensisx, 17 strokes, radical 鳥
xiū(xiu1)xiu T1
  1. 1horned owl, scops chinensis
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March 24, 2026

鵂xiū(xiu1)

The character 鵂 (xiū) refers to a specific type of owl, known as the horned owl or scops owl, which is native to parts of Asia. It is often associated with nocturnal behavior and is recognized for its distinctive ear-like tufts. This term is used mostly in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

Strokes17Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, owls are often seen as symbols of wisdom, and specific species like 鵂 may appear in traditional stories or folklore, highlighting their mystical qualities. Additionally, owls are sometimes viewed with superstition, believed to bring omens.

Memory tip

Imagine an owl (the character resembles a bird) that hoots at night, which sounds like 'xiū.' The bird's tufts on its head can remind you of the character's unique structure with the two 'horns' on top, symbolizing its name.

Meanings of 鵂

xiū(xiu1)
1horned owl, scops chinensis
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鵂

鵂Simplified
17Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 鵂

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AI study notes for 鵂

Usage Notes

The term 鵂 is quite rare in modern Mandarin and is usually used in literary texts or discussions about wildlife. Be careful not to confuse it with more common terms for owls, like 猫头鹰 (māo tóu yīng). It is also important to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing xiū can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鵂 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of wildlife-related terms. Focus on memorizing the character components and their meanings, as it can help with recognizing similar characters in the future.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鵂 with 猫头鹰 (māo tóu yīng) and use it interchangeably, which is incorrect since they refer to different species. For instance, saying '我看到一只鵂' (wǒ kàn dào yī zhī xiū) when referring to a common owl can be misleading.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鵂

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Etymology of 鵂

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

bird

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

Origin

鵂 = 鳥 + 休. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鵂

IDS Structure⿰休鳥
鵂Full character
=
休Xiu1
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鵂?

How to say horned owl, scops chinensis in Chinese

“horned owl, scops chinensis” in Chinese is鵂xiū

The character 鵂 (xiū) refers to a specific type of owl, known as the horned owl or scops owl, which is native to parts of Asia. It is often associated with nocturnal behavior and is recognized for its distinctive ear-like tufts. This term is used mostly in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

When to use 鵂

The term 鵂 is quite rare in modern Mandarin and is usually used in literary texts or discussions about wildlife. Be careful not to confuse it with more common terms for owls, like 猫头鹰 (māo tóu yīng). It is also important to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing xiū can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鵂 with 猫头鹰 (māo tóu yīng) and use it interchangeably, which is incorrect since they refer to different species. For instance, saying '我看到一只鵂' (wǒ kàn dào yī zhī xiū) when referring to a common owl can be misleading.

Write 鵂

鵂

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

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Word Family of 鵂

Words containing this character1
鸺xiūowl鵂
Exercise 1 of 1

Characters with 鵂

What does 鸺 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鵂

It is pronounced as 'xiū' with a high-level tone.

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