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鹅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
鹅
é
goose
HSK 7, n, 12 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #6484, Very Hard
é(e2)e T2
1goose
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March 24, 2026
鹅(䳘)é(e2)
The character 鹅 (é) means 'goose' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in contexts related to food, farming, and nature. The character can also appear in idiomatic expressions or when discussing specific types of birds.
Strokes12Radical鸟Frequency#6484DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, goose is a popular dish, especially in regions like Beijing where Peking duck is famous, but goose dishes are also treasured. Understanding this character can enhance your appreciation for local culinary traditions.
Memory tip
Think of the character 鹅 as a 'goose' waddling through a field. The top part, 鹿, resembles a bird in flight, while the bottom part, 可 (kě), can remind you of the sound a goose makes. Imagine a goose saying 'é' as it cackles, reinforcing both the sound and the meaning.
Meanings of 鹅
é(e2)
1goose
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 鹅 means.
About 鹅
鹅Simplified
䳘Traditional
12Strokes
鸟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 鹅
Podcast: 鹅
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AI study notes for 鹅
Quick Contrast
鸭 (yā, duck) — use 鹅 when specifically referring to a goose, which is a different species from a duck.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鹅 with similar-sounding characters. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but is most often found in everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to cooking and farming.
HSK Study Tips
While 鹅 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK Level 2 words related to animals and food. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing it in texts about nature or food.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鹅 with other bird characters, such as 鸟 (niǎo) meaning 'bird'. For example, saying '我喜欢鸟' (wǒ xǐhuān niǎo) when they mean 'goose' could lead to misunderstandings. The correct phrase would be '我喜欢鹅' (wǒ xǐhuān é).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鹅
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How well do you know 鹅?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 鹅 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
鹅 = 鸟 + 我. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鹅
IDS Structure⿰我鸟
鹅Full character
=
我wo3
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 鹅?
How to say goose in Chinese
“goose” in Chinese is鹅é
The character 鹅 (é) means 'goose' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in contexts related to food, farming, and nature. The character can also appear in idiomatic expressions or when discussing specific types of birds.
When to use 鹅
Be careful not to confuse 鹅 with similar-sounding characters. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but is most often found in everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to cooking and farming.
鹅 or something close to it
鸭 (yā, duck) — use 鹅 when specifically referring to a goose, which is a different species from a duck.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 鹅 with other bird characters, such as 鸟 (niǎo) meaning 'bird'. For example, saying '我喜欢鸟' (wǒ xǐhuān niǎo) when they mean 'goose' could lead to misunderstandings. The correct phrase would be '我喜欢鹅' (wǒ xǐhuān é).
Write 鹅
鹅
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Practice writing 鹅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 鹅
鹅 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
一段石阶从____卵石路上一直向上直通城墙。
A number of staircases ascend from the cobbled streets onto the ramparts.
