HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #11572, Very Hard
鸣
míng
a bird call or animal cry; to make a sound
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #11572, Very Hard
míng(ming2) T2
1to cry (of birds, animals and insects)
2a bird call or animal cry; to make a sound
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March 24, 2026
鸣(鳴)míng(ming2)
The character 鸣 (míng) primarily means to cry or make a sound, especially in reference to birds, animals, and insects. It is commonly used in contexts where one describes the calls of nature, such as bird songs or animal cries. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any sound-making action.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#11572DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the sounds of birds are often associated with poetry and nature appreciation, symbolizing beauty and harmony. 鸣 is frequently used in classical poetry to evoke emotions and natural scenery.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bird singing a sweet song at dawn, its叫声 (jiàoshēng) echoing through the air. The character 鸣 is like a bird's beak, open wide as it calls out. Remember 'míng' sounds a bit like 'mingling' with nature, where sounds of birds mingle in the morning.
Meanings of 鸣
míng(ming2)
1to cry (of birds, animals and insects)
2a bird call or animal cry; to make a sound
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鸣
鸣Simplified
鳴Traditional
8Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11572Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 鸣
Podcast: 鸣
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AI Study Notes for 鸣
Quick Contrast
鸣 (míng) vs 叫 (jiào) — use 鸣 for natural sounds made by animals, while 叫 is more general for calling or yelling.
Usage Notes
Learners often mix up 鸣 with similar-sounding characters but remember that 鸣 is specifically for the sounds made by animals. It is typically used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in overly formal writing. Common collocations include 鸟鸣 (niǎo míng, bird song) and 哭鸣 (kū míng, to cry out).
HSK Study Tips
Although 鸣 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with HSK Level 2 words related to nature and sounds, such as 声音 (shēngyīn, sound). Focus on using it in sentences to describe animal sounds as you expand your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 鸣 with 鸣 and mistakenly use it for human crying, saying '我在鸣' (wǒ zài míng) instead of '我在哭' (wǒ zài kū). Remember, 鸣 is reserved for animal sounds.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鸣
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 鸣? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 鸣?
Decomposition of 鸣
IDS Structure⿰口鸟
鸣Full Character
=
口kou3
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 鸣?
How to say to cry (of birds, animals and insects) in Chinese
“to cry (of birds, animals and insects)” in Chinese is鸣míng
The character 鸣 (míng) primarily means to cry or make a sound, especially in reference to birds, animals, and insects. It is commonly used in contexts where one describes the calls of nature, such as bird songs or animal cries. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any sound-making action.
When to use 鸣
Learners often mix up 鸣 with similar-sounding characters but remember that 鸣 is specifically for the sounds made by animals. It is typically used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in overly formal writing. Common collocations include 鸟鸣 (niǎo míng, bird song) and 哭鸣 (kū míng, to cry out).
鸣 or something close to it
鸣 (míng) vs 叫 (jiào) — use 鸣 for natural sounds made by animals, while 叫 is more general for calling or yelling.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 鸣 with 鸣 and mistakenly use it for human crying, saying '我在鸣' (wǒ zài míng) instead of '我在哭' (wǒ zài kū). Remember, 鸣 is reserved for animal sounds.
Write 鸣
鸣
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Practice writing 鸣 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 鸣
鸣 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
汽船向我们嘟嘟____笛时，甲板上的水手们饶有趣味地挥着手。
Steamers tooted at us as sailors on deck waved in amusement.
