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鸹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鸹guācrowx, 11 strokes, radical 鸟
鸹guāa crowunknown, 11 strokes, radical 鸟
guā(gua1) T1
  1. 1crow
  2. 2a crow
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鸹(鴰)guā(gua1)

鸹 (guā) refers to a type of crow, specifically the species known for its distinctive calls and intelligence. It is often used in literature to symbolize bad omens or misfortune, as crows are traditionally associated with darkness and death in various cultures.

Strokes11Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, crows, including 鸹, are often seen as harbingers of bad luck or death, reflecting a longstanding superstition. This symbolism can be observed in various Chinese folktales and proverbs.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce crow (鸹) cawing loudly in the trees. The shape of the character resembles a bird in flight, and the sound 'guā' mimics the harsh call of a crow, helping you remember both its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 鸹

guā(gua1)
1crow
2a crow
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鸹

鸹Simplified
鴰Traditional
11Strokes
鸟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鸹

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鸹

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鸹

Usage Notes

鸹 is generally used in a literary or poetic context rather than in everyday conversation. Learners often confuse it with other bird-related characters, so it's important to remember that it specifically denotes a crow, not just any bird. Be mindful of its tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 鸹 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to vocabulary about animals, particularly birds. Students at this level should focus on recognizing animal characters and their pronunciation, which may help in reading comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鸹 with other similar bird characters, such as 鸡 (jī). A common mistake is using 鸹 to refer to any bird, which should be corrected to specify that it refers only to crows.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鸹

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Etymology of 鸹

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鸹

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half舌 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 鸹? 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 鸹?

Decomposition of 鸹

IDS Structure⿰舌鸟
鸹Full Character
=
舌she2
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鸹?

How to say crow in Chinese

“crow” in Chinese is鸹guā

鸹 (guā) refers to a type of crow, specifically the species known for its distinctive calls and intelligence. It is often used in literature to symbolize bad omens or misfortune, as crows are traditionally associated with darkness and death in various cultures.

When to use 鸹

鸹 is generally used in a literary or poetic context rather than in everyday conversation. Learners often confuse it with other bird-related characters, so it's important to remember that it specifically denotes a crow, not just any bird. Be mindful of its tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鸹 with other similar bird characters, such as 鸡 (jī). A common mistake is using 鸹 to refer to any bird, which should be corrected to specify that it refers only to crows.

Write 鸹

鸹

Practice writing 鸹 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 鸹

Words Containing This Character2
鸹guāa crow鴰
老鸹a crow老鴰
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鸹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鸹

It is pronounced as 'guā', with a high and level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鸹?

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.