Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
鶯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鶯yīngoriole, green finch; Sylvia species (various)x, 21 strokes, radical 鳥
yīng(ying1)ying T1
  1. 1oriole, green finch; Sylvia species (various)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鶯yīng(ying1)

The character 鶯 (yīng) refers to the oriole, a small bird known for its vibrant colors and melodious song. In Chinese culture, the oriole symbolizes joy and happiness, often associated with spring and renewal. It is commonly referenced in poetry and literature, representing beauty and freedom in nature.

Strokes21Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese poetry, the oriole is often associated with the arrival of spring and is a symbol of beauty and love. It appears in classical works, reflecting the deep connection between nature and cultural expression in Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a beautiful oriole (鶯) singing in a green field. The character combines the 'bird' radical (鳥) on the right, indicating its avian nature, with the phonetic component that sounds like 'yīng.' Picture the bird perched on a tree, its bright yellow feathers contrasting with the lush greenery around it.

Meanings of 鶯

yīng(ying1)
1oriole, green finch; Sylvia species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 鶯 means.

About 鶯

鶯Simplified
21Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鶯

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鶯

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 鶯

Quick Contrast

雀 (què) — use 鶯 for the specific symbolism of joy and beauty, while 雀 refers to sparrows, which have different cultural connotations.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; 'yīng' has a high level tone, which is crucial for correct pronunciation. This character is often used in literary or poetic contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases about spring or songs, such as '鶯歌燕舞' (yīng gē yàn wǔ), meaning 'oriole singing and swallows dancing.'

HSK Study Tips

While 鶯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to Level 4 words related to nature and animals. Students should focus on the character's structure and its associations in poetry, which can expand their understanding of literary language.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鶯 with similar-sounding characters like 应 (yīng), which means 'should' or 'to respond.' It's important to pay attention to context and pronunciation to avoid this mix-up.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鶯

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 鶯, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 鶯 to you

Let me explain 鶯 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 鶯 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 鶯?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 鶯 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 鶯

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A bird 鳥 covered in 冖 green 炏 feathers

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 鶯?

Decomposition of 鶯

IDS Structure⿳炏冖鳥
鶯Full character
=
炏kai4
top
冖mi4
middle
鳥niao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 鶯?

How to say oriole, green finch; Sylvia species (various) in Chinese

“oriole, green finch; Sylvia species (various)” in Chinese is鶯yīng

The character 鶯 (yīng) refers to the oriole, a small bird known for its vibrant colors and melodious song. In Chinese culture, the oriole symbolizes joy and happiness, often associated with spring and renewal. It is commonly referenced in poetry and literature, representing beauty and freedom in nature.

When to use 鶯

Be cautious with the tone; 'yīng' has a high level tone, which is crucial for correct pronunciation. This character is often used in literary or poetic contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases about spring or songs, such as '鶯歌燕舞' (yīng gē yàn wǔ), meaning 'oriole singing and swallows dancing.'

鶯 or something close to it

雀 (què) — use 鶯 for the specific symbolism of joy and beauty, while 雀 refers to sparrows, which have different cultural connotations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鶯 with similar-sounding characters like 应 (yīng), which means 'should' or 'to respond.' It's important to pay attention to context and pronunciation to avoid this mix-up.

Write 鶯

鶯

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 鶯?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Cultural Notes for 鶯

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, songbirds are often associated with happiness and freedom, similar to the oriole, but they may not hold as specific cultural significance or symbolism in literature.

Word Family of 鶯

Words containing this character5
夜莺nightingale夜鶯
莺yīngoriole or various birds of the Sylvidae family including warblers鶯
黄莺black-naped oriole (Oriolus chinensis)黃鶯
柳莺willow warbler柳鶯
莺歌燕舞prosperity abounds (idiom)鶯歌燕舞
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鶯

What does 夜莺 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鶯

It is pronounced as 'yīng' with a high level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鶯?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab