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鷺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
heron, egret; Ardea species (various)x, 24 strokes, radical 鳥, Very Hard
(lu4) T4
  1. 1heron, egret; Ardea species (various)
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March 24, 2026

(lu4)

The character 鷺 (lù) refers to herons and egrets, which are wading birds commonly found in wetlands. This term is often used in literature and poetry to evoke imagery of nature and tranquility, particularly in relation to water bodies. In modern usage, it may also appear in discussions about wildlife and environmental conservation.

Strokes24RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, herons are often associated with elegance and purity, making appearances in traditional art and poetry. They symbolize longevity and are sometimes connected to the idea of achieving a peaceful state of mind.

Memory Tip

Imagine a graceful heron (鷺) standing by the lake. The character has a radical for bird (鳥) at the bottom, reminding you of its avian nature. To remember the pronunciation, think of 'Loo' like a heron gracefully landing on the water, creating a peaceful scene.

Meanings of 鷺

(lu4)
1heron, egret; Ardea species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鷺

Simplified
24Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鷺

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AI Study Notes for 鷺

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a graceful heron (鷺) standing by the lake. The character has a radical for bird (鳥) at the bottom, reminding you of its avian nature. To remember the pronunciation, think of 'Loo' like a heron gracefully landing on the water, creating a peaceful scene.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鷺 with other bird-related terms, so it's essential to remember its specific reference to herons and egrets. This word is generally used in formal contexts, especially in poetry or nature descriptions. Be careful with the tone; it uses the fourth tone (lù), which should be pronounced strongly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鷺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to nature-themed vocabulary that might appear in higher-level reading materials. Students should focus on recognizing the character in context and associating it with other animal-related terms they learn.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, herons are often associated with elegance and purity, making appearances in traditional art and poetry. They symbolize longevity and are sometimes connected to the idea of achieving a peaceful state of mind.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 鷺 with similar characters like 鳥 (niǎo) or 雀 (què, meaning sparrow). Remember, 鷺 specifically refers to herons and egrets, not all birds.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鷺

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Etymology of 鷺

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 路 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鷺.

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 鷺?

Decomposition of 鷺

IDS Structure⿱路鳥
Full Character
=
Lu4
top
niao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鷺?

Write 鷺

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 鷺

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, herons are often associated with elegance and purity, making appearances in traditional art and poetry. They symbolize longevity and are sometimes connected to the idea of achieving a peaceful state of mind.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, herons are also seen as symbols of grace, but they may not carry the same depth of cultural significance as in Chinese poetry and art.

Word Family of 鷺

Words Containing This Character3
heron
白鹭(bird species of China) little egret (Egretta garzetta)白鷺
苍鹭(bird species of China) grey heron (Ardea cinerea)蒼鷺
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 鹭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鷺

It's pronounced 'lù' with a falling tone.