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鶻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
a kind of pigeon; treron permagnax, 21 strokes, radical 鳥, Very Hard
(gu3) T3
  1. 1a kind of pigeon; treron permagna
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March 24, 2026
(gu3)

The character 鶻 (gǔ) refers to a specific type of pigeon, specifically the treron permagna, which is known for its unique size and appearance. This term is primarily used in ornithology and may not be familiar to everyday speakers, making it more common in academic or specialized contexts.

Strokes21RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, pigeons often symbolize peace and fidelity. While 鶻 specifically refers to a type of pigeon, understanding its context can deepen appreciation for how birds are viewed in Chinese symbolism.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, majestic pigeon soaring through the sky. The character 鶻 has the radical 鳥 (bird) on the left, emphasizing its connection to birds. Picture a giant pigeon – 'gǔ' – gliding gracefully, making it easier to recall both the sound and meaning.

Meanings of 鶻

(gu3)
1a kind of pigeon; treron permagna
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鶻

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

Podcast: 鶻

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 鶻

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large, majestic pigeon soaring through the sky. The character 鶻 has the radical 鳥 (bird) on the left, emphasizing its connection to birds. Picture a giant pigeon – 'gǔ' – gliding gracefully, making it easier to recall both the sound and meaning.

Usage Notes

This term is quite technical, so it may not be suitable for casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse 鶻 with similar-sounding words. It's also important to use the correct tone (gǔ) to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鶻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can enrich your understanding of animals in Chinese. Focus on related terms in the animal kingdom, such as 鸟 (niǎo - bird) and 鸽子 (gēzi - pigeon), to build connections.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, pigeons often symbolize peace and fidelity. While 鶻 specifically refers to a type of pigeon, understanding its context can deepen appreciation for how birds are viewed in Chinese symbolism.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鶻 with 鸽 (gē - pigeon), which is a more common term. It's important to remember that 鶻 refers to a specific type of pigeon and to use it in the right context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鶻

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Etymology of 鶻

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 骨 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鶻.

Memory Hint

bird

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鶻?

Decomposition of 鶻

IDS Structure⿰骨鳥
Full Character
=
gu3
left
niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鶻?

Write 鶻

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

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Cultural Notes for 鶻

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, pigeons often symbolize peace and fidelity. While 鶻 specifically refers to a type of pigeon, understanding its context can deepen appreciation for how birds are viewed in Chinese symbolism.

Word Family of 鶻

Words Containing This Character2
falcon
回鹘Huihu, Tang dynasty name of ethnic group corresponding to modern Uighur 維吾爾|维吾尔[Wéi​wú​'ěr]回鶻
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鹘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鶻

It refers to a specific type of pigeon known as the treron permagna.