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鴕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鴕tuóostrichx, 16 strokes, radical 鳥, rank #96240, Very Hard
tuó(tuo2) T2
  1. 1ostrich
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鴕tuó(tuo2)

The character 鴕 (tuó) refers to an ostrich, a large flightless bird native to Africa. In Mandarin, this term is often used in discussions about wildlife, animal characteristics, and in culinary contexts, as ostrich meat is consumed in some regions.

Strokes16Radical鳥Frequency#96240DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the ostrich is sometimes referenced in discussions about exotic animals and is associated with certain myths and folklore, particularly regarding its size and unique characteristics compared to more common birds.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant bird, an ostrich, strutting around with its head held high. The character 鴕 has the radical for bird (鳥) on the left, reminding you it’s a bird, and the right side can be linked to 'tuó' by imagining the bird 'toddling' about on its long legs.

Meanings of 鴕

tuó(tuo2)
1ostrich
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鴕

鴕Simplified
16Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鴕

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鴕

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AI Study Notes for 鴕

Usage Notes

Be aware that 鴕 is not commonly used in everyday conversations, making it more appropriate for specific contexts like zoology or nature documentaries. Avoid confusing it with other similar bird characters, and remember that it is a formal term rather than slang.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鴕 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other animal-related vocabulary at higher levels. Focus on learning its pronunciation and its usage in contexts related to wildlife to enhance your understanding of animal classifications.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鴕 with similar bird characters like 鸟 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鴕 specifically refers to an ostrich, not just any bird.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鴕

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Etymology of 鴕

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 它 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鴕.

Memory Hint

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鴕

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 它 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鴕.

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half它 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 鴕? 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 鴕?

Decomposition of 鴕

IDS Structure⿰鳥它
鴕Full Character
=
鳥niao3
left
它ta1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鴕?

How to say ostrich in Chinese

“ostrich” in Chinese is鴕tuó

The character 鴕 (tuó) refers to an ostrich, a large flightless bird native to Africa. In Mandarin, this term is often used in discussions about wildlife, animal characteristics, and in culinary contexts, as ostrich meat is consumed in some regions.

When to use 鴕

Be aware that 鴕 is not commonly used in everyday conversations, making it more appropriate for specific contexts like zoology or nature documentaries. Avoid confusing it with other similar bird characters, and remember that it is a formal term rather than slang.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鴕 with similar bird characters like 鸟 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鴕 specifically refers to an ostrich, not just any bird.

Write 鴕

鴕

Practice writing 鴕 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 鴕

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

Ostriches are often viewed as curiosities in Western cultures, while in China, they may be more associated with luxury and exoticism due to their rarity in local settings.

Word Family of 鴕

Words Containing This Character4
鸵鸟ostrich鴕鳥
鸵tuóostrich鴕
鸵鸟政策ostrich policy (sticking one's head in the sand, failing to acknowledge danger)鴕鳥政策
美洲鸵Greater Rhea美洲鴕
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 鸵鸟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鴕

It is pronounced as 'tuó', with a rising tone.

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