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鷙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鷙zhìhawk, vulturex, 22 strokes, radical 鳥
zhì(zhi4)zhi T4
  1. 1hawk, vulture
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March 24, 2026

鷙zhì(zhi4)

The character 鷙 (zhì) refers to birds of prey, specifically hawks and vultures. It's often used in literature to symbolize sharpness, vigilance, and predatory behavior, highlighting the fierce and powerful nature of these birds. In some contexts, it can also convey a sense of danger or foreboding due to the association with scavenging birds.

Strokes22Radical鳥
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, birds of prey like hawks symbolize power and authority, often appearing in poetry and art to represent noble qualities. They have been admired for their strength and skill, often linked to martial prowess.

Memory tip

Picture a hawk soaring high in the sky, its sharp eyes scanning the land below for prey. The top part of 鷙 resembles a bird in flight, while the bottom part signifies sharpness. Imagine the sound 'zhì' as the sharp call of a hawk, reminding you of its keen hunting skills.

Meanings of 鷙

zhì(zhi4)
1hawk, vulture
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鷙

鷙Simplified
22Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鷙

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Podcast: 鷙

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AI study notes for 鷙

Quick Contrast

鷙 (zhì) vs 鷹 (yīng, eagle) — use 鷙 when emphasizing predatory behavior or scavenging, while 鷹 is more specific to eagles.

Usage Notes

This character is more formal and literary, often found in classical texts rather than in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with more general terms for birds; remember that 鷙 specifically refers to predatory birds. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 鷙 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to HSK Level 5 words related to animals and nature. Students should focus on the broader category of bird-related vocabulary to understand its usage better. Familiarity with literary contexts can enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鷙 with more general terms for birds, such as 鳥 (niǎo), which means 'bird.' For example, saying 鷙 when you mean any bird is incorrect; use 鳥 instead for general references.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鷙

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Etymology of 鷙

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

bird

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

Origin

鷙 = 鳥 + 執. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鷙

IDS Structure⿱執鳥
鷙Full character
=
執zhi2
top
鳥niao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鷙?

How to say hawk, vulture in Chinese

“hawk, vulture” in Chinese is鷙zhì

The character 鷙 (zhì) refers to birds of prey, specifically hawks and vultures. It's often used in literature to symbolize sharpness, vigilance, and predatory behavior, highlighting the fierce and powerful nature of these birds. In some contexts, it can also convey a sense of danger or foreboding due to the association with scavenging birds.

When to use 鷙

This character is more formal and literary, often found in classical texts rather than in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with more general terms for birds; remember that 鷙 specifically refers to predatory birds. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change the meaning.

鷙 or something close to it

鷙 (zhì) vs 鷹 (yīng, eagle) — use 鷙 when emphasizing predatory behavior or scavenging, while 鷹 is more specific to eagles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鷙 with more general terms for birds, such as 鳥 (niǎo), which means 'bird.' For example, saying 鷙 when you mean any bird is incorrect; use 鳥 instead for general references.

Write 鷙

鷙

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

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Word Family of 鷙

Words containing this character1
鸷zhìfierce鷙
Exercise 1 of 1

Characters with 鷙

What does 鸷 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鷙

While both refer to birds of prey, 鷙 typically refers to vultures and can imply a more sinister aspect, whereas 鷹 (yīng) specifically refers to hawks and is often seen in a more positive light.

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