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鸻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鸻héngplover, wading birdzg, 11 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #65990, Very Hard
héng(heng2) T2
  1. 1plover, wading bird
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鸻(鴴)héng(heng2)

The character 鸻 (héng) refers to a type of wading bird, specifically a plover. It is commonly used in contexts related to nature, birdwatching, or discussions about wildlife, emphasizing its role in aquatic ecosystems. The character evokes imagery of these birds' graceful movements along shorelines and wetlands.

Strokes11Radical鸟Frequency#65990DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, birds like 鸻 are often associated with beauty and the changing seasons, and they can symbolize harmony with nature. Birdwatching is a popular activity in China, especially during spring and autumn migrations.

Memory Tip

Imagine a plover, a bird that hops along the shore, with its long legs (the '亻' radical) resembling a person (人) standing at the edge of water. The sound 'héng' can be linked to the way these birds 'hang' around in shallow waters searching for food.

Meanings of 鸻

héng(heng2)
1plover, wading bird
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鸻

鸻Simplified
鴴Traditional
11Strokes
鸟Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鸻

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Podcast: 鸻

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AI Study Notes for 鸻

Usage Notes

When using 鸻, it's important to note that it is a more formal term and may not be widely recognized outside of specific contexts like ornithology. Common collocations include phrases related to birdwatching or conservation. Be mindful of the tone when speaking; a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Though 鸻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be linked to HSK Level 4 vocabulary related to animals and nature. Students should focus on recognizing the character in texts about wildlife and practice pronunciation to distinguish it from similar terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鸻 with similar bird characters like 鸡 (jī, chicken) due to the similar radical. Remember that 鸻 specifically refers to a plover, while 鸡 refers to a domesticated bird.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鸻

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Etymology of 鸻

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A wading 行 bird 鸟; 鸟 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鸻

  1. 1The giveawayA wading 行 bird 鸟; 鸟 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鸻? 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 鸻?

Decomposition of 鸻

IDS Structure⿰行鸟
鸻Full Character
=
行hang2
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鸻?

How to say plover, wading bird in Chinese

“plover, wading bird” in Chinese is鸻héng

The character 鸻 (héng) refers to a type of wading bird, specifically a plover. It is commonly used in contexts related to nature, birdwatching, or discussions about wildlife, emphasizing its role in aquatic ecosystems. The character evokes imagery of these birds' graceful movements along shorelines and wetlands.

When to use 鸻

When using 鸻, it's important to note that it is a more formal term and may not be widely recognized outside of specific contexts like ornithology. Common collocations include phrases related to birdwatching or conservation. Be mindful of the tone when speaking; a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鸻 with similar bird characters like 鸡 (jī, chicken) due to the similar radical. Remember that 鸻 specifically refers to a plover, while 鸡 refers to a domesticated bird.

Write 鸻

鸻

Practice writing 鸻 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 鸻

Words Containing This Character1
鸻héngplover鴴
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鸻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鸻

The pronunciation is 'héng', with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鸻?

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.