Meanings of 鸦
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About 鸦
Podcast: 鸦
Podcast: 鸦
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AI Study Notes for 鸦
乌 (wū) — use 鸦 (yā) when specifically referring to crows, while 乌 (wū) generally refers to black birds or crows in a broader sense.
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.
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.
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).
Pronunciation of 鸦
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Etymology of 鸦
Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 牙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鴉.
bird
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 鸦
Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 牙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鴉.
- 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half牙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaybird
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 鸦? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 鸦
Identify the Components
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How to say crow in Chinese
“crow” in Chinese is鸦
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.
When to use 鸦
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.
鸦 or something close to it
乌 (wū) — use 鸦 (yā) when specifically referring to crows, while 乌 (wū) generally refers to black birds or crows in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 鸦
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Practice writing 鸦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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 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.
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)
Word Family of 鸦
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.
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