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鶘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鶘húpelicanx, 20 strokes, radical 鳥, rank #98919, Very Hard
hú(hu2) T2
  1. 1pelican
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鶘hú(hu2)

The character 鶘 (hú) refers specifically to the pelican, a large water bird known for its distinctive long bill and large throat pouch used for catching prey. While not commonly used in everyday language, it may appear in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife and nature.

Strokes20Radical鳥Frequency#98919DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Pelicans are often associated with various symbols in Chinese culture, including abundance and resourcefulness due to their fishing abilities. They can also be found in Chinese poetry and art, symbolizing harmony with nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pelican (鶘) elegantly swooping down to catch fish with its long bill. The character has 'bird' (鳥) as a component, reminding you it's a type of bird. The pronunciation 'hú' can sound like 'who', as in 'Who is that pelican over there?'

Meanings of 鶘

hú(hu2)
1pelican
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鶘

鶘Simplified
20Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鶘

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Podcast: 鶘

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AI Study Notes for 鶘

Usage Notes

When using 鶘, it's important to remember that it is not commonly encountered in conversation, so it may sound overly formal or literary. Be cautious of tone; 'hú' is pronounced with a rising tone. Proper collocations may include terms related to nature or ornithology.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鶘 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be a fun addition for learners interested in animals. Focus on recognizing radicals and components, especially the bird radical (鳥), to help remember its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 鶘 with other bird-related characters, such as 鳥 (niǎo), which is more general. For instance, saying '我喜欢鶘' (wǒ xǐhuān hú) is less common; instead, use '我喜欢鸟' (wǒ xǐhuān niǎo) for 'I like birds.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鶘

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Etymology of 鶘

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 胡 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鶘.

Memory Hint

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鶘

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 胡 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鶘.

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half胡 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 鶘? 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 鶘?

Decomposition of 鶘

IDS Structure⿰胡鳥
鶘Full Character
=
胡Hu2
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鶘?

How to say pelican in Chinese

“pelican” in Chinese is鶘hú

The character 鶘 (hú) refers specifically to the pelican, a large water bird known for its distinctive long bill and large throat pouch used for catching prey. While not commonly used in everyday language, it may appear in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife and nature.

When to use 鶘

When using 鶘, it's important to remember that it is not commonly encountered in conversation, so it may sound overly formal or literary. Be cautious of tone; 'hú' is pronounced with a rising tone. Proper collocations may include terms related to nature or ornithology.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 鶘 with other bird-related characters, such as 鳥 (niǎo), which is more general. For instance, saying '我喜欢鶘' (wǒ xǐhuān hú) is less common; instead, use '我喜欢鸟' (wǒ xǐhuān niǎo) for 'I like birds.'

Write 鶘

鶘

Practice writing 鶘 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 鶘

Words Containing This Character2
鹈鹕pelican鵜鶘
鹕húpelican鶘
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鹈鹕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鶘

No, 鶘 is not commonly used in daily conversation and is more likely to appear in literary or specialized contexts.

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Not sure what to learn after 鶘?

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