HSK 7, nr, 7 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #25618, Hard
鸠
jiū
turtledove
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #25618, Hard
鸠
jiū
(literary) to gather
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #25618, Hard
jiū(jiu1) T1
1pigeon; to collect, to assemble
2turtledove
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March 24, 2026
鸠(鳩)jiū(jiu1)
鸠 (jiū) primarily refers to a type of bird, specifically a pigeon or turtledove. It can also denote the action of gathering or assembling, often used in literary contexts. In Chinese culture, pigeons symbolize peace and harmony, which adds depth to its usage in poetry and literature.
Strokes7Radical鸟Frequency#25618DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pigeons are often released during weddings and celebrations as a symbol of love and fidelity, making 鸠 a term associated with positive connotations in social contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pigeon (鸠) sitting on a 'jiu' (酒) bottle, gathering with its friends. The character 鸠 has the bird radical 鸟 (niǎo) at the top, which signifies it represents a bird. Picture this scene to remember both the shape and the sound of the word.
Meanings of 鸠
jiū(jiu1)
1pigeon; to collect, to assemble
2turtledove
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鸠
鸠Simplified
鳩Traditional
7Strokes
鸟Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 鸠
Podcast: 鸠
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AI Study Notes for 鸠
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pigeon (鸠) sitting on a 'jiu' (酒) bottle, gathering with its friends. The character 鸠 has the bird radical 鸟 (niǎo) at the top, which signifies it represents a bird. Picture this scene to remember both the shape and the sound of the word.
Usage Notes
In casual conversation, 鸠 is often used to refer to pigeons. However, in formal writing, it may appear less frequently. Students should be careful with tone; the first tone (jī) refers to a different word, so always use the second tone (jiū) when saying 鸠.
HSK Study Tips
Although 鸠 is not included in the HSK levels, it relates to Level 3 vocabulary through its connection to animals and nature. Students should focus on recognizing this character's structure and pronunciation to enhance their reading comprehension.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pigeons are often released during weddings and celebrations as a symbol of love and fidelity, making 鸠 a term associated with positive connotations in social contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鸠 (jiū) with 鸟 (niǎo), assuming they have the same meaning. Remember, 鸟 is the general term for bird, while 鸠 specifically refers to pigeons or turtledoves.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鸠
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Grammar Patterns of 鸠
鸠 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese culture, pigeons are often released during weddings and celebrations as a symbol of love and fidelity, making 鸠 a term associated with positive connotations in social contexts.
Word Family of 鸠
Words Containing This Character9
鸠jiūturtledove鳩
斑鸠turtledove斑鳩
伊壁鸠鲁Epicurus (341-270 BC), ancient Greek philosopher伊壁鳩魯
鸠山Hatoyama, Japanese name and place name鳩山
鸠山由纪夫Hatoyama Yukio (1947-), Japanese Democratic Party politician, prime minister 2009-2010鳩山由紀夫
鹊巢鸠占to reap where one has not sown鵲巢鳩占
鸠江区Jiujiang district of Wuhu city 蕪湖市|芜湖市[Wúhúshì], Anhui鳩江區
鸠江Jiujiang district of Wuhu city 蕪湖市|芜湖市[Wúhúshì], Anhui鳩江
鸠合gathering鳩合
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鸠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鸠
鸠 specifically refers to pigeons and turtledoves, while other characters like 鸟 (niǎo) refer more generally to birds.
In poetry, 鸠 often symbolizes peace and harmony, and may be used to evoke feelings of love or companionship.
While not common, 鸠 may appear in literary contexts to convey themes of gathering or unity.
