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鷂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鷂yàosparrow hawk; Circus species (various)x, 21 strokes, radical 鳥
yào(yao4)yao T4
  1. 1sparrow hawk; Circus species (various)
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March 24, 2026

鷂yào(yao4)

The character 鷂 (yào) refers to a type of bird known as the sparrow hawk, which is known for its hunting abilities and agility. It is often used in contexts related to nature and wildlife, particularly in discussions about birds of prey. The character can also refer to various species within the Circus genus, which includes several types of harriers.

Strokes21Radical鳥
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, birds often symbolize freedom and transcendence, and the sparrow hawk, in particular, is admired for its hunting prowess. The character may also appear in literature and poetry, representing both beauty and the rawness of nature.

Memory tip

Imagine a small hawk circling high above, ready to swoop down like a 'yow' (sounds like 'yào') on its prey. The character 鷂 has the bird radical 鳥, representing birds, along with the component 夭, which can remind you of the youthful agility of a sparrow hawk.

Meanings of 鷂

yào(yao4)
1sparrow hawk; Circus species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 鷂

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

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AI study notes for 鷂

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 鷂 with similar bird characters like 鳥 (bird) or 隼 (falcon). It is generally used in a formal context, such as in ornithology or literature, rather than in everyday conversation. Remember that 鷂 is not commonly used in daily language, so it may sound overly formal in casual discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鷂 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners interested in nature and wildlife topics. Students at HSK Level 4 and above might explore this character when discussing specific birds or ecosystems, connecting it with related vocabulary like 鳥 (bird) and 猛禽 (raptor).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鷂 with 鳥, resulting in incorrect usage like '我看到一隻鷂' (I saw a bird) instead of the more general '我看到一隻鳥'. Remember that 鷂 is specific to sparrow hawks, while 鳥 encompasses all birds.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鷂

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Etymology of 鷂

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

bird

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

Origin

鷂 = 鳥 + 䍃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鷂

IDS Structure⿰䍃鳥
鷂Full character
=
䍃you2
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鷂?

How to say sparrow hawk; Circus species (various) in Chinese

“sparrow hawk; Circus species (various)” in Chinese is鷂yào

The character 鷂 (yào) refers to a type of bird known as the sparrow hawk, which is known for its hunting abilities and agility. It is often used in contexts related to nature and wildlife, particularly in discussions about birds of prey. The character can also refer to various species within the Circus genus, which includes several types of harriers.

When to use 鷂

Be careful not to confuse 鷂 with similar bird characters like 鳥 (bird) or 隼 (falcon). It is generally used in a formal context, such as in ornithology or literature, rather than in everyday conversation. Remember that 鷂 is not commonly used in daily language, so it may sound overly formal in casual discussions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鷂 with 鳥, resulting in incorrect usage like '我看到一隻鷂' (I saw a bird) instead of the more general '我看到一隻鳥'. Remember that 鷂 is specific to sparrow hawks, while 鳥 encompasses all birds.

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鷂

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Word Family of 鷂

Words containing this character1
鹞yàosparrow hawk鷂
Exercise 1 of 1

Characters with 鷂

What does 鹞 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鷂

While 鳥 (niǎo) is a general term for birds, 鷂 (yào) specifically refers to the sparrow hawk and certain species of harriers, highlighting a more specific category of avian life.

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