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鵜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鵜típelicanx, 18 strokes, radical 鳥, rank #92085, Very Hard
tí(ti2)ti T2
  1. 1pelican
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March 24, 2026

鵜tí(ti2)

The character 鵜 (tí) refers specifically to a type of bird known as a pelican. In Chinese, it captures the essence of this waterbird, often associated with fishing and coastal environments. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literature or discussions about wildlife.

Strokes18Radical鳥Frequency#92085DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, birds like the pelican are often depicted in art and poetry, symbolizing grace and the beauty of nature. They can also be associated with fishing traditions in coastal communities.

Memory tip

Imagine a pelican with its long beak (the radical 鳥 indicates it's a bird) soaring over the sea. The sound 'tí' can remind you of the word 'tee', as in a tee for golf, which can be visualized as a pelican standing by the water, ready to catch fish.

Meanings of 鵜

tí(ti2)
1pelican
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鵜

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

Podcast: 鵜

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Podcast: 鵜

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AI study notes for 鵜

Usage Notes

Since 鵜 is a less common character, it might not be recognized by all speakers, particularly in informal settings. Be cautious about using it in conversation without context, as it may confuse listeners. It's often paired with words related to birds or nature.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鵜 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of animal names in Chinese. Students at higher levels should focus on characters related to nature and wildlife, as they often contain radicals that indicate their meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 鵜 with similar bird characters, such as 鸟 (niǎo), which is a general term for 'bird'. Remember that 鵜 specifically refers to a pelican.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鵜

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Etymology of 鵜

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 弟 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵜.

Memory hint

bird

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

Origin

鵜 = 鳥 + 弟. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鵜

IDS Structure⿰弟鳥
鵜Full character
=
弟di4
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鵜?

How to say pelican in Chinese

“pelican” in Chinese is鵜tí

The character 鵜 (tí) refers specifically to a type of bird known as a pelican. In Chinese, it captures the essence of this waterbird, often associated with fishing and coastal environments. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literature or discussions about wildlife.

When to use 鵜

Since 鵜 is a less common character, it might not be recognized by all speakers, particularly in informal settings. Be cautious about using it in conversation without context, as it may confuse listeners. It's often paired with words related to birds or nature.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 鵜 with similar bird characters, such as 鸟 (niǎo), which is a general term for 'bird'. Remember that 鵜 specifically refers to a pelican.

Write 鵜

鵜

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

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Word Family of 鵜

Words containing this character2
鹈鹕pelican鵜鶘
鹈típelican鵜
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 鵜

What does 鹈鹕 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鵜

It means 'pelican', a type of large waterbird known for its distinctive long beak.

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