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鳶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳶yuānkite; Milvus species (various)zg, 14 strokes, radical 鳥
yuān(yuan1) T1
  1. 1kite; Milvus species (various)
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March 24, 2026

鳶yuān(yuan1)

The character 鳶 (yuān) primarily refers to a type of bird, specifically a kite, which is known for its soaring ability. It can also denote certain species of the Milvus genus. In everyday language, it can evoke imagery of freedom and height, often associated with flying kites during festivals.

Strokes14Radical鳥
Cultural Note

Kite flying is a popular traditional activity in China, especially during the Qingming Festival, where families fly kites to commemorate ancestors. The character 鳶 embodies this cultural practice, symbolizing freedom and connection to the sky.

Memory Tip

Imagine a kite (鳶) soaring high in the sky. The top part of the character, 鳥 (bird), represents the 'bird' aspect, while the bottom part suggests 'to fly.' Picture a huge, colorful kite resembling a bird as it dances in the wind, helping you remember that 鳶 sounds like 'yuān' and means 'kite.'

Meanings of 鳶

yuān(yuan1)
1kite; Milvus species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鳶

鳶Simplified
14Strokes
鳥Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳶

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Podcast: 鳶

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AI Study Notes for 鳶

Quick Contrast

鹰 (yīng) vs 鳶 (yuān): Choose 鳶 when referring to kites or a specific genus of birds associated with soaring, while 鹰 denotes eagles, which are different in species and connotation.

Usage Notes

When using 鳶 in conversation, be mindful of the context, as it can refer to both the bird and the activity of kite flying. Common collocations include 鳶飛 (yuān fēi - 'kite flying') and 鳶尾 (yuān wěi - 'kite tail'). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that refer to different species.

HSK Study Tips

While 鳶 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to themes of nature and animals often found in HSK materials. Students should focus on recognizing the character in reading contexts, especially in texts related to wildlife or festivals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳶 with 鳥 (bird) due to their similar appearances. Remember that 鳶 specifically refers to kites, while 鳥 is a more general term for birds. An incorrect usage might be saying 鳥飛 (rather than 鳶飛) to mean 'kite flying.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳶

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Etymology of 鳶

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

bird

Semantic (meaning)鳥
+
Phonetic (sound)弋
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鳶

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half弋 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybird
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鳶? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鳶?

Decomposition of 鳶

IDS Structure⿱弋鳥
鳶Full Character
=
弋yi4
top
鳥niao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鳶?

How to say kite; Milvus species (various) in Chinese

“kite; Milvus species (various)” in Chinese is鳶yuān

The character 鳶 (yuān) primarily refers to a type of bird, specifically a kite, which is known for its soaring ability. It can also denote certain species of the Milvus genus. In everyday language, it can evoke imagery of freedom and height, often associated with flying kites during festivals.

When to use 鳶

When using 鳶 in conversation, be mindful of the context, as it can refer to both the bird and the activity of kite flying. Common collocations include 鳶飛 (yuān fēi - 'kite flying') and 鳶尾 (yuān wěi - 'kite tail'). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that refer to different species.

鳶 or something close to it

鹰 (yīng) vs 鳶 (yuān): Choose 鳶 when referring to kites or a specific genus of birds associated with soaring, while 鹰 denotes eagles, which are different in species and connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳶 with 鳥 (bird) due to their similar appearances. Remember that 鳶 specifically refers to kites, while 鳥 is a more general term for birds. An incorrect usage might be saying 鳥飛 (rather than 鳶飛) to mean 'kite flying.'

Write 鳶

鳶

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鳶

Words Containing This Character3
鸢yuānkite (small hawk)鳶
鸢尾Iricdaceae, the iris family鳶尾
纸鸢kite紙鳶
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 鸢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鳶

It means 'kite' as well as referring to certain species of the Milvus genus.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鳶?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.