Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鹕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
pelicanx, 14 strokes, radical 鸟, Very Hard
(hu2) T2
  1. 1pelican
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(鶘)(hu2)

The character 鹕 (hú) refers specifically to a pelican, a large waterbird known for its distinctive long beak and throat pouch used for catching fish. This term is often used in literary contexts or when discussing wildlife, particularly in relation to their habitats and behaviors.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, pelicans are often associated with rivers and lakes, reflecting the importance of water in traditional Chinese poetry and art. They symbolize grace and adaptability in their natural environments.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, happy pelican with a big pouch (the character's radical 鳥, meaning bird, hints at its avian nature) swooping down to catch fish in a lake. The sound 'hú' can remind you of the sound of a pelican's splash as it dives, helping you remember both the character and its pronunciation.

Meanings of 鹕

(hu2)
1pelican
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹕

Simplified
Traditional
14Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹕

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鹕

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large, happy pelican with a big pouch (the character's radical 鳥, meaning bird, hints at its avian nature) swooping down to catch fish in a lake. The sound 'hú' can remind you of the sound of a pelican's splash as it dives, helping you remember both the character and its pronunciation.

Usage Notes

While 鹕 is not commonly used in daily conversation, it may appear in literature, nature documentaries, or discussions about bird species. Be aware of the formal context in which this word is used; it doesn't typically appear in casual speech, and learners may confuse it with similar bird names like 鴨 (yā, duck).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹕 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can enrich your understanding of animal-related vocabulary. Focus on the radicals and structure of animal names to build connections with other HSK words, such as 鸟 (niǎo, bird) and 魚 (yú, fish).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, pelicans are often associated with rivers and lakes, reflecting the importance of water in traditional Chinese poetry and art. They symbolize grace and adaptability in their natural environments.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鹕 with other bird characters due to their similar appearances. For example, mixing it up with 鸭 (yā, duck) is common; remember that 鹕 specifically refers to a pelican, which is much larger and has a distinctive beak.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹕

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 鹕

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 胡 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鶘.

Memory Hint

bird

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鹕?

Decomposition of 鹕

IDS Structure⿰胡鸟
Full Character
=
Hu2
left
diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹕?

Write 鹕

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 鹕

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, pelicans are often associated with rivers and lakes, reflecting the importance of water in traditional Chinese poetry and art. They symbolize grace and adaptability in their natural environments.

Word Family of 鹕

Words Containing This Character2
鹈鹕pelican鵜鶘
pelican
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鹈鹕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹕

It is pronounced as 'hú'.