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鵑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鵑juāncuckoox, 18 strokes, radical 鳥
juān(juan1)juan T1
  1. 1cuckoo
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March 24, 2026

鵑juān(juan1)

The character 鵑 (juān) refers to the cuckoo, a bird known for its distinctive call and brood parasitism. In Chinese culture, the cuckoo often symbolizes melancholy and is associated with themes of longing and separation, particularly in poetry and literature.

Strokes18Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese poetry, the cuckoo is frequently mentioned in connection with themes of longing and emotional sorrow, particularly in the context of separation from loved ones, showcasing the bird's deeper cultural significance.

Memory tip

Imagine a cuckoo bird (鵑) perched on a branch, calling out in a way that sounds like 'juān.' The character has a 'bird' radical (鳥), which helps you remember it's related to a bird, while the sound connection can help reinforce the pronunciation.

Meanings of 鵑

juān(juan1)
1cuckoo
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鵑

鵑Simplified
18Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鵑

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Podcast: 鵑

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AI study notes for 鵑

Usage Notes

This character is relatively formal and might not be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '鵑鸣' (the sound of a cuckoo) and it is often used in literary contexts. Be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a first tone (juān).

HSK Study Tips

While 鵑 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of Chinese poetry and literature, which often features birds symbolically. Focus on recognizing the bird radical and its associations with emotions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鵑 with similar-sounding characters. For example, they might mistakenly say 'jūan' instead of 'juān.' Always pay attention to the tone to avoid misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鵑

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Etymology of 鵑

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

bird

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

Origin

鵑 = 鳥 + 肙. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鵑

IDS Structure⿰肙鳥
鵑Full character
=
肙yuan4
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鵑?

How to say cuckoo in Chinese

“cuckoo” in Chinese is鵑juān

The character 鵑 (juān) refers to the cuckoo, a bird known for its distinctive call and brood parasitism. In Chinese culture, the cuckoo often symbolizes melancholy and is associated with themes of longing and separation, particularly in poetry and literature.

When to use 鵑

This character is relatively formal and might not be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '鵑鸣' (the sound of a cuckoo) and it is often used in literary contexts. Be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a first tone (juān).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鵑 with similar-sounding characters. For example, they might mistakenly say 'jūan' instead of 'juān.' Always pay attention to the tone to avoid misunderstandings.

Write 鵑

鵑

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Word Family of 鵑

Words containing this character5
杜鹃cuckoo (Cercococcyx spp., also written 杜鵑鳥|杜鹃鸟)杜鵑
杜鹃花Indian Azalea (Rhododendron simsii Planch)杜鵑花
鹃juāncuckoo鵑
杜鹃科Cuculidae, bird family including cuckoo 杜鵑鳥|杜鹃鸟杜鵑科
杜鹃座Tucana (constellation)杜鵑座
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鵑

What does 杜鹃 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鵑

It means cuckoo, a bird known for its distinctive call.

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