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鹛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹛méicormorantg, 14 strokes, radical 鸟
鹛méibabbler (bird)unknown, 14 strokes, radical 鸟
méi(mei2)mei T2
  1. 1cormorant
  2. 2babbler (bird)
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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
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

By ear

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About 鹛

鹛Simplified
鶥Traditional
14Strokes
鸟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹛

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Podcast: 鹛

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AI Study Notes for 鹛

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.

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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Etymology of 鹛

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

bird

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

Origin

鹛 = 鸟 + 眉. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鹛

IDS Structure⿰眉鸟
鹛Full Character
=
眉mei2
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鹛?

How to say cormorant in Chinese

“cormorant” in Chinese is鹛méi

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.

When to use 鹛

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.

What learners get wrong

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.

Write 鹛

鹛

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

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Word Family of 鹛

Words Containing This Character1
鹛méibabbler (bird)鶥

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹛

The correct pronunciation is méi, with a rising tone.

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