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鷯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鷯liáowrenzg, 23 strokes, radical 鳥
liáo(liao2) T2
  1. 1wren
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鷯liáo(liao2)

The character 鷯 (liáo) refers to a small songbird known as a wren. In Chinese, it is often used in poetry and literature to evoke imagery of nature and tranquility. While this word may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, it carries a sense of delicacy and beauty in the context of avian life.

Strokes23Radical鳥
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, birds like the wren symbolize grace and the beauty of nature. The wren's delicate nature often evokes themes of freedom and the fleeting moments of life, which are central to many traditional Chinese works.

Memory Tip

Visualize a tiny bird with a long tail flitting through the trees, singing sweetly. The character 鷯 includes the radical 鳥 (bird) at the top, reminding you it relates to birds. The pronunciation 'liáo' can be remembered by thinking of a bird that 'yells' when it sings, as if it’s calling out to the world.

Meanings of 鷯

liáo(liao2)
1wren
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鷯

鷯Simplified
23Strokes
鳥Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鷯

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Podcast: 鷯

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AI Study Notes for 鷯

Usage Notes

This character is rare in everyday conversations and is more often found in literary texts. Be cautious of its pronunciation; learners might confuse it with similar sounding words. It is typically used in a formal or poetic context rather than in casual speech.

HSK Study Tips

While 鷯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of avian-related terms. Focus on similar bird-related characters and their contexts to build a thematic vocabulary set. Remember that HSK levels may contain more common birds like 鸟 (niǎo).

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 鷯 with similar bird characters or mispronounce it as 'liào'. Always remember that the correct tone is the second tone, 'liáo', not the fourth tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鷯

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Etymology of 鷯

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鷯

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half尞 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 鷯? 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 鷯?

Decomposition of 鷯

IDS Structure⿰尞鳥
鷯Full Character
=
尞liao4
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鷯?

How to say wren in Chinese

“wren” in Chinese is鷯liáo

The character 鷯 (liáo) refers to a small songbird known as a wren. In Chinese, it is often used in poetry and literature to evoke imagery of nature and tranquility. While this word may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, it carries a sense of delicacy and beauty in the context of avian life.

When to use 鷯

This character is rare in everyday conversations and is more often found in literary texts. Be cautious of its pronunciation; learners might confuse it with similar sounding words. It is typically used in a formal or poetic context rather than in casual speech.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 鷯 with similar bird characters or mispronounce it as 'liào'. Always remember that the correct tone is the second tone, 'liáo', not the fourth tone.

Write 鷯

鷯

Practice writing 鷯 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 鷯

Words Containing This Character3
鹩liáoeastern wren鷯
鹩哥(bird species of China) hill myna (Gracula religiosa)鷯哥
鹪鹩(bird species of China) Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)鷦鷯
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 鹩 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鷯

It means 'wren', a small songbird.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鷯?

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.