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March 24, 2026
鸦(鴉)yā(ya1)
The character 鸦 (yā) refers to a type of bird known as a crow, specifically belonging to the genus Corvus. It is commonly used when discussing avian species in Chinese, as well as in idiomatic expressions that reflect the crow's characteristics, such as being dark or ominous.
Strokes9Radical鸟Frequency#33707DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Crows, known as 鸦 in Chinese, are often viewed as symbols of intelligence and adaptability, but they can also represent bad omens in folklore. In traditional Chinese culture, their calls are sometimes associated with death or misfortune.
Memory Tip
Imagine a crow cawing 'Yah!' as it swoops down from a dark tree. The character 鸦 has the radical for bird (鸟) at the bottom, which connects it visually to its meaning as a type of bird, while the top part can remind you of a crow's shadowy form against the sky.
Meanings of 鸦
yā(ya1)
1crow
2crow; Corvus species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 鸦
鸦Simplified
鴉Traditional
9Strokes
鸟Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#33707Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鸦
Podcast: 鸦
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AI Study Notes for 鸦
Quick Contrast
乌 (wū) — use 鸦 (yā) when specifically referring to crows, while 乌 (wū) generally refers to black birds or crows in a broader sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a crow cawing 'Yah!' as it swoops down from a dark tree. The character 鸦 has the radical for bird (鸟) at the bottom, which connects it visually to its meaning as a type of bird, while the top part can remind you of a crow's shadowy form against the sky.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 鸦 with other similar bird characters like 鸟 (bird) or 鴉 (also meaning crow but in a more literary context). It's more commonly used in informal settings and specific discussions about birds. Remember that the tone is important; 'yā' with a high tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 鸦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be associated with other HSK level vocabulary related to animals. Focus on recognizing this character in context when reading about wildlife or nature.
Cultural Note
Crows, known as 鸦 in Chinese, are often viewed as symbols of intelligence and adaptability, but they can also represent bad omens in folklore. In traditional Chinese culture, their calls are sometimes associated with death or misfortune.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 鸦 with 鸟 (bird) in general discussions about animals. For example, saying '我看到一只鸟' (Wǒ kàn dào yī zhī niǎo) when referring specifically to a crow should instead use 鸦: '我看到一只鸦' (Wǒ kàn dào yī zhī yā).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鸦
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Grammar Patterns of 鸦
鸦 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
新老建筑上都有密密麻麻的涂____。
Buildings old and new are thickly covered with graffiti.
Example Sentences for 鸦 (6)
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1
新老建筑上都有密密麻麻的涂鸦。
xīn lǎo jiàn zhù shàng dū yǒu mì mì má má de tú yā。
Buildings old and new are thickly covered with graffiti.
2
他非常害怕黑乌鸦。
tā fēi cháng hài pà hēi wū yā。
He is deathly afraid of black crows.
3
他的签字是令人看不懂的涂鸦.
tā de qiān zì shì líng rén kàn bù dǒng de tú yā.
His signature was an incomprehensible scrawl.
4
这些烟圈出自他那带鸦片味的香烟头,形成各种光怪陆离的涡状花纹而袅袅上升.
zhè xiē yān quān chū zì tā nà dài yā piàn wèi de xiāng yān tóu, , xíng chéng gè zhǒng guāng guài lù lí de wō zhuàng huā wén ér niǎo niǎo shàng.
The wreaths of smoke curled up in such fanciful whorls from his opiumtainted cigarette.
The farmer shot two crows and strung them on the fence.
6
这时候,一只狐狸看见了乌鸦, 馋得直流口水, 非常想得到那片肉.
zhè shí hòu, , yī zhī hú lí kàn jiàn le wū, yā , chán dé zhí liú, kǒu shuǐ , fēi cháng xiǎng dé dào.
Attime, a fox saw the crow with the, so a plan to get the meat.
Cultural Notes for 鸦
🏮Cultural insight
Crows, known as 鸦 in Chinese, are often viewed as symbols of intelligence and adaptability, but they can also represent bad omens in folklore. In traditional Chinese culture, their calls are sometimes associated with death or misfortune.
Word Family of 鸦
Words Containing This Character10
乌鸦crow烏鴉
涂鸦graffiti塗鴉
鸦片opium (loanword)鴉片
鸦yācrow鴉
鸦片战争the Opium Wars of 1840-1842 and 1860-1861鴉片戰爭
鸦雀无声yāquèwúshēngabsolute silence鴉雀無聲
天下乌鸦一般黑all crows are black (idiom)天下烏鴉一般黑
渡鸦(bird species of China) common raven (Corvus corax)渡鴉
寒鸦(bird species of China) Eurasian jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)寒鴉
乌鸦座Corvus (constellation)烏鴉座
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 乌鸦 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鸦
鸦 is a more commonly used character in modern contexts, while 鴉 is considered more literary or archaic.
It is pronounced 'yā' with a high tone, which is important to differentiate it from other words.
Yes, it can appear in idioms related to darkness or misfortune, reflecting cultural views of crows.
