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鴯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鴯érswallowx, 17 strokes, radical 鳥
ér(er2) T2
  1. 1swallow
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鴯ér(er2)

The character 鴯 (ér) means 'swallow,' referring to a type of small bird known for its agile flying and distinctive forked tail. This bird is often associated with spring and renewal in Chinese culture, appearing in poetry and art as a symbol of good fortune and happiness. In daily life, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts to describe the bird or its characteristics.

Strokes17Radical鳥
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, swallows are often seen as harbingers of spring and are celebrated in literature and festivals. Their arrival is eagerly awaited as it signifies the end of winter and the beginning of a fruitful season.

Memory Tip

Imagine a swallow (ér) soaring gracefully through the sky. The character 鴯 has a bird radical (鳥) at the bottom, indicating its avian nature, while the top part can remind you of the sound 'er' that swallows make when chirping, connecting the imagery of the bird to its name.

Meanings of 鴯

ér(er2)
1swallow
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鴯

鴯Simplified
17Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鴯

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Podcast: 鴯

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AI Study Notes for 鴯

Usage Notes

When using 鴯, be mindful that it is more literary and less common in everyday conversation, where simply saying 'bird' (鸟, niǎo) might suffice. It is often used in idiomatic expressions or poetry, so understanding its context can enhance your appreciation of Chinese literature. Non-native speakers might confuse it with other similar-sounding bird names; ensure you practice the pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鴯 is not categorized under HSK levels, it is useful for learners interested in nature vocabulary or poetry. Students should focus on recognizing the bird radical and associating it with other bird-related characters like 鸟 (niǎo) to build a broader vocabulary around fauna.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 鴯 with similar-sounding characters or with the more general term for 'bird' (鸟, niǎo). Ensure you use the correct character for specific references to swallows versus general bird discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鴯

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Etymology of 鴯

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鴯

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half而 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 鴯? 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 鴯?

Decomposition of 鴯

IDS Structure⿰而鳥
鴯Full Character
=
而er2
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鴯?

How to say swallow in Chinese

“swallow” in Chinese is鴯ér

The character 鴯 (ér) means 'swallow,' referring to a type of small bird known for its agile flying and distinctive forked tail. This bird is often associated with spring and renewal in Chinese culture, appearing in poetry and art as a symbol of good fortune and happiness. In daily life, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts to describe the bird or its characteristics.

When to use 鴯

When using 鴯, be mindful that it is more literary and less common in everyday conversation, where simply saying 'bird' (鸟, niǎo) might suffice. It is often used in idiomatic expressions or poetry, so understanding its context can enhance your appreciation of Chinese literature. Non-native speakers might confuse it with other similar-sounding bird names; ensure you practice the pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 鴯 with similar-sounding characters or with the more general term for 'bird' (鸟, niǎo). Ensure you use the correct character for specific references to swallows versus general bird discussions.

Write 鴯

鴯

Practice writing 鴯 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 鴯

Words Containing This Character2
鸸éremu鴯
鸸鹋emu鴯鶓
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鸸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鴯

It means 'swallow,' a type of bird known for its swift flying.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鴯?

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.