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March 24, 2026
鸵(鴕)tuó(tuo2)
The character 鸵 (tuó) refers to an ostrich, a large flightless bird native to Africa, known for its long legs and fast running speed. In Chinese, it is commonly used in contexts related to wildlife, zoology, and sometimes in discussions about exotic animals in zoos or farms.
Strokes10Radical鸟Frequency#50790DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, ostriches are often associated with exoticism and are featured in discussions about wildlife conservation, reflecting a growing interest in biodiversity and animal protection.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 鸵 as a bird with a big head and long neck, much like an ostrich. The radical 鸟 (bird) indicates that it is a type of bird, and you can imagine the 'tuo' sound as the sound an ostrich might make when excited, flapping its wings.
Meanings of 鸵
tuó(tuo2)
1ostrich
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 鸵
鸵Simplified
鴕Traditional
10Strokes
鸟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鸵
Podcast: 鸵
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AI Study Notes for 鸵
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 鸵 as a bird with a big head and long neck, much like an ostrich. The radical 鸟 (bird) indicates that it is a type of bird, and you can imagine the 'tuo' sound as the sound an ostrich might make when excited, flapping its wings.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 鸵 with similar bird characters like 鸟 (bird) or 雉 (pheasant). It is generally used in more formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or documentaries, rather than casual conversation. Be careful with the tone; 'tuó' is pronounced with a rising tone.
HSK Study Tips
Although 鸵 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be linked to HSK Level 3 words that relate to animals, such as 猫 (māo) for cat and 狗 (gǒu) for dog. Students should focus on recognizing animal-related vocabulary and practicing pronunciation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, ostriches are often associated with exoticism and are featured in discussions about wildlife conservation, reflecting a growing interest in biodiversity and animal protection.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 鸵 as 鸟 (which is the general word for 'bird') or confuse it with similar characters. Remember, 鸵 specifically refers to an ostrich, not just any bird.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鸵
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Grammar Patterns of 鸵
鸵 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 3
Complete the Sentence
那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色____鸟毛制作的头饰.
The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes.
Example Sentences for 鸵 (2)
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1
那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰.
nà wèi wǔ dǎo yǎn yuán dài zháo fěn sè tuó niǎo máo zhì zuò de tóu shì.
The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes.
2
他们能把鸵鸟毛弄白 吗 ?
tā mén néng bǎ tuó niǎo máo nòng bái?
Can they bleach ostrich feathers?
Cultural Notes for 鸵
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, ostriches are often associated with exoticism and are featured in discussions about wildlife conservation, reflecting a growing interest in biodiversity and animal protection.
Word Family of 鸵
Words Containing This Character4
鸵鸟ostrich鴕鳥
鸵tuóostrich鴕
鸵鸟政策ostrich policy (sticking one's head in the sand, failing to acknowledge danger)鴕鳥政策
美洲鸵Greater Rhea美洲鴕
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鸵鸟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鸵
It is pronounced as 'tuó' with a rising tone.
There are no widely recognized idioms that include 鸵, but it may appear in discussions about wildlife.
You might say '我在动物园看到了鸵鸟' (I saw an ostrich at the zoo).
