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March 24, 2026
鹛(鶥)méi(mei2)
The character 鹛 (méi) refers to the cormorant, a waterbird known for its diving abilities and often found near lakes and rivers. In a broader sense, it can also refer to a babbler, a type of bird known for its chatty and social behavior. This character is used in specific contexts related to birdwatching or discussions about wildlife.
Strokes14Radical鸟Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Cormorants have been historically significant in China for fishing, particularly in areas like the Li River, where fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish, showcasing a unique aspect of Chinese fishing culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cormorant (鹛) diving into the water to catch fish, its wings spread wide. The character 鹛 resembles the shape of a bird in flight, with the left radical being a depiction of its feathers and the right suggesting its vocal nature, echoing the 'babbler' meaning.
Meanings of 鹛
méi(mei2)
1cormorant
2babbler (bird)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鹛
鹛Simplified
鶥Traditional
14Strokes
鸟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鹛
Podcast: 鹛
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AI Study Notes for 鹛
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a cormorant (鹛) diving into the water to catch fish, its wings spread wide. The character 鹛 resembles the shape of a bird in flight, with the left radical being a depiction of its feathers and the right suggesting its vocal nature, echoing the 'babbler' meaning.
Usage Notes
While 鹛 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it might appear in literary or ecological contexts. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters like 美 (měi), which means beautiful. Always use the correct tone when pronouncing méi to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As 鹛 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners should focus on its components and related characters associated with birds. Connecting it with other bird-related vocabulary can enhance memory retention and context usage.
Cultural Note
Cormorants have been historically significant in China for fishing, particularly in areas like the Li River, where fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish, showcasing a unique aspect of Chinese fishing culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鹛 with other similar characters due to pronunciation similarities. For example, saying 美 (měi) instead of 鹛 (méi) when discussing birds can lead to confusion, as 美 means beautiful.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鹛
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Cultural Notes for 鹛
🏮Cultural insight
Cormorants have been historically significant in China for fishing, particularly in areas like the Li River, where fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish, showcasing a unique aspect of Chinese fishing culture.
Word Family of 鹛
Words Containing This Character1
鹛méibabbler (bird)鶥
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 鹛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鹛
The correct pronunciation is méi, with a rising tone.
No, 鹛 is more commonly found in literature or discussions about birds rather than in everyday speech.
While it primarily refers to cormorants, it can also mean babblers, which are more social and vocal birds.
