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鹿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹿lùdeer; surnameHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 鹿, rank #3939, Very Hard
lù(lu4)lu T4
  1. 1deer; surname
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March 24, 2026

鹿lù(lu4)

The character 鹿 (lù) primarily means 'deer,' referring to the animal known for its antlers and gracefulness. It can also be used as a surname in Chinese culture. In various contexts, it symbolizes gentleness and harmony within nature.

Strokes11Radical鹿Frequency#3939DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, deer are often seen as symbols of prosperity and longevity, frequently represented in art and folklore. The character is associated with auspiciousness in traditional beliefs.

Memory tip

Imagine a deer (鹿) gracefully leaping through a lush forest. The character resembles a deer with its antlers proudly displayed, and the sound 'lù' can remind you of 'leaping' as it moves through the woods.

Meanings of 鹿

lù(lu4)
1deer; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 鹿 means.

About 鹿

鹿Simplified
11Strokes
鹿Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 鹿

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Podcast: 鹿

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AI study notes for 鹿

Usage Notes

A common mistake is using 鹿 in a context where a different animal is meant, as it specifically refers to deer. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when discussing wildlife, as it can evoke cultural significance.

HSK Study Tips

While 鹿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other nature-related words at an intermediate level. Students should focus on recognizing the character's components to enhance their understanding of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鹿 with similar characters, such as 驴 (lǘ, donkey). Remember that 鹿 specifically refers to 'deer' and should not be mixed with other animals. For example, saying '我看到一只驴' (I saw a donkey) when you mean 'deer' is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹿

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Etymology of 鹿

Formation typePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a deer.

Memory hint

A deer with an antlered head, two legs, and a tail

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 鹿?

Decomposition of 鹿

IDS Structure⿸广⿱?比
鹿Full character
=
广Guang3
enclosing
比Bi3
top
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鹿?

How to say deer; surname in Chinese

“deer; surname” in Chinese is鹿lù

The character 鹿 (lù) primarily means 'deer,' referring to the animal known for its antlers and gracefulness. It can also be used as a surname in Chinese culture. In various contexts, it symbolizes gentleness and harmony within nature.

When to use 鹿

A common mistake is using 鹿 in a context where a different animal is meant, as it specifically refers to deer. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when discussing wildlife, as it can evoke cultural significance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鹿 with similar characters, such as 驴 (lǘ, donkey). Remember that 鹿 specifically refers to 'deer' and should not be mixed with other animals. For example, saying '我看到一只驴' (I saw a donkey) when you mean 'deer' is incorrect.

Write 鹿

鹿

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

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Grammar patterns of 鹿

鹿 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 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这将导致马____的灭绝。

It's going to be the death knell of the red deer.

Example sentences for 鹿 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这将导致马鹿的灭绝。

zhè jiāng dǎozhì mǎ lù de mièjué。

It's going to be the death knell of the red deer.
2
任由鹿糟蹋会很容易把庄稼都毁了。

rèn yóu lù zāotà huì hěn róngyì bǎ zhuāngjia dōu huǐ le。

Crops can be all too easily decimated by unchecked depredations by deer.
3
一只棕色的小鹿蹦跳着穿过他们面前的那条小路。

yī zhī zōngsè de xiǎo lù bèng tiào zhe chuānguò tāmen miànqián de nà tiáo xiǎolù。

A small brown fawn hopped across the trail in front of them.
4
猎鹿于1959年在苏格兰被禁止。

liè lù yú1959 nián zài sū gé lán bèi jìnzhǐ。

Deer hunting was banned in Scotland in
5
这场选举胜负难分,截至目前还不知鹿死谁手.

zhè chǎng xuǎnjǔ shèngfù nán fēn, jiézhì mùqián hái bùzhī lù sǐ shéi shǒu.

The election was a toss - up, the winner still hasn't been determined.
6
森林中的鹿一只接一只地病死了.

sēnlín zhōng de lù yī zhī jiē yī zhī dì bìng sǐ le.

The deer in the forest are all dying off from disease.
7
我踩断了一根树枝,把那头鹿吓惊了.

wǒ cǎi duàn le yī gēn shùzhī, bǎ nà tóu lù hè jīng le.

The breaking of a branch under my foot alarmed the deer.
8
鹿每年都蜕角.

lù měi nián dōu tuì jiǎo.

Deer shed their antlers each year.
9
鹿在多大的时候开始长出角?

lù zài duōdà de shíhou kāishǐ cháng chū jiǎo?

When do deer first sprout horns?
10
两只雄鹿把角叉到一起了.

liǎng zhī xióng lù bǎ jiǎo chā dào yìqǐ le.

The two stags interlocked their horns.
Exercise 1 of 1

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Word Family of 鹿

Words containing this character20
鹿lùdeer
长颈鹿giraffe長頸鹿
麋鹿Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), species of deer native to China that is critically endangered
鹿角antler
驯鹿reindeer馴鹿
驼鹿elk駝鹿
梅花鹿sika deer
鹿特丹Rotterdam, port city in the Netherlands
鹿茸young deer antler prior to ossification (used in TCM)
鹿死谁手prize winner鹿死誰手
逐鹿to pursue deer
鹿肉venison
鹿城区Lucheng district of Wenzhou city 溫州市|温州市[Wēn​zhōu​shì], Zhejiang鹿城區
马鹿red deer馬鹿
鹿港Lukang town in Changhua county 彰化縣|彰化县[Zhāng​huà​xiàn], Taiwan
群雄逐鹿great heroes pursue deer in the central plains (idiom); fig. many vie for supremacy
指鹿为马making a deer out to be a horse (idiom); deliberate misrepresentation指鹿為馬
巨鹿Julu county in Xingtai 邢台[Xíng​tái], Hebei
鹿儿岛Kagoshima, Japanese island prefecture off the south coast of Kyushu鹿兒島
涿鹿Zhuolu county in Zhangjiakou 張家口|张家口[Zhāng​jiā​kǒu], Hebei
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鹿

What does 长颈鹿 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鹿

The character 鹿 is pronounced as 'lù' with a falling tone.

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