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鶺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鶺jíwagtailzg, 21 strokes, radical 鳥
jí(ji2) T2
  1. 1wagtail
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鶺jí(ji2)

The character 鶺 (jí) refers to a type of bird known as the wagtail. Wagtails are small, active birds often found near water, characterized by their long tails that they constantly wag. In Chinese, this character may be used in poetry or literature to evoke imagery of nature and movement.

Strokes21Radical鳥
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, birds often symbolize freedom and beauty, and the wagtail is sometimes associated with the arrival of spring. This character might be used in poetry to invoke themes of rebirth and nature's cycles.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small, lively bird, the wagtail, dancing by the water's edge. The character 鶺 has a bird radical (鳥) which helps you remember it relates to a bird, while the 'jí' sound can remind you of the joyful sound of a bird's chirp.

Meanings of 鶺

jí(ji2)
1wagtail
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鶺

鶺Simplified
21Strokes
鳥Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鶺

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Podcast: 鶺

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AI Study Notes for 鶺

Usage Notes

While 鶺 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary contexts or as part of idiomatic expressions. Be careful not to confuse it with other bird names, as this can lead to misunderstanding. It is generally used in a more formal or poetic register.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鶺 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be a good example of how specific nouns in Chinese can differ from more commonly used words. Learners should focus on recognizing the bird radical and related vocabulary to enhance their understanding of nature-related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鶺 with similar-sounding words or other bird names. For example, saying 鶺 when they mean another bird like 燕 (yàn, swallow) can lead to confusion. Always double-check the character and its meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鶺

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Etymology of 鶺

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鶺

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half脊 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 鶺? 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 鶺?

Decomposition of 鶺

IDS Structure⿰脊鳥
鶺Full Character
=
脊ji2
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鶺?

How to say wagtail in Chinese

“wagtail” in Chinese is鶺jí

The character 鶺 (jí) refers to a type of bird known as the wagtail. Wagtails are small, active birds often found near water, characterized by their long tails that they constantly wag. In Chinese, this character may be used in poetry or literature to evoke imagery of nature and movement.

When to use 鶺

While 鶺 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary contexts or as part of idiomatic expressions. Be careful not to confuse it with other bird names, as this can lead to misunderstanding. It is generally used in a more formal or poetic register.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鶺 with similar-sounding words or other bird names. For example, saying 鶺 when they mean another bird like 燕 (yàn, swallow) can lead to confusion. Always double-check the character and its meaning.

Write 鶺

鶺

Practice writing 鶺 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 鶺

Words Containing This Character1
鹡jípied wagtail鶺
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鹡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鶺

It means 'wagtail', which is a type of small bird known for its distinctive tail movements.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鶺?

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.