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鹑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹑chúnquail; Turnix species (various)x, 13 strokes, radical 鸟
chún(chun2) T2
  1. 1quail; Turnix species (various)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鹑(鶉)chún(chun2)

The character 鹑 (chún) refers specifically to the quail, a small bird commonly found in various regions. In Chinese cuisine, quail is appreciated for its delicate flavor and is often featured in traditional dishes. While not as commonly discussed as other birds, it plays a role in both gastronomy and cultural symbolism in some contexts.

Strokes13Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In some regions of China, quail is considered a delicacy and is also popular in traditional medicine for its nutritional benefits. The character 鹑 may appear in poetry or literature that reflects themes of nature and life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny bird (the quail) perched on a branch, its feathers resembling the shape of the character 鹑. The top part resembles its head, while the bottom part suggests its body. Remember 'chún' by picturing a chef cooking quails, making a 'chun' sound as they chop herbs for flavor.

Meanings of 鹑

chún(chun2)
1quail; Turnix species (various)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹑

鹑Simplified
鶉Traditional
13Strokes
鸟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹑

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Podcast: 鹑

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AI Study Notes for 鹑

Usage Notes

When using 鹑, be aware that it is more common in written contexts, such as literature or menus, rather than in casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with 鸡 (jī, chicken) due to similar culinary references. Be cautious of pronunciation; ensure you emphasize the 'ch' sound in 'chún.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹑 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of food-related terms, especially in HSK 3 and 4 where food items are common. Try to connect it with other bird-related terms you learn to build a broader vocabulary set.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鹑 with other birds like 鸡 (jī, chicken) or 鸭 (yā, duck). Remember that while 鸡 refers to chicken, 鹑 specifically denotes quail, which is a different bird entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹑

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Etymology of 鹑

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 享 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鶉.

Memory Hint

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鹑

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 享 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鶉.

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half享 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 鹑? 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 鹑?

Decomposition of 鹑

IDS Structure⿰享鸟
鹑Full Character
=
享xiang3
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹑?

How to say quail; Turnix species (various) in Chinese

“quail; Turnix species (various)” in Chinese is鹑chún

The character 鹑 (chún) refers specifically to the quail, a small bird commonly found in various regions. In Chinese cuisine, quail is appreciated for its delicate flavor and is often featured in traditional dishes. While not as commonly discussed as other birds, it plays a role in both gastronomy and cultural symbolism in some contexts.

When to use 鹑

When using 鹑, be aware that it is more common in written contexts, such as literature or menus, rather than in casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with 鸡 (jī, chicken) due to similar culinary references. Be cautious of pronunciation; ensure you emphasize the 'ch' sound in 'chún.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鹑 with other birds like 鸡 (jī, chicken) or 鸭 (yā, duck). Remember that while 鸡 refers to chicken, 鹑 specifically denotes quail, which is a different bird entirely.

Write 鹑

鹑

Practice writing 鹑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 鹑

鹑 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

我用那只枪打死过几百只鹌____。

I've shot hundreds of quail with that gun.

Example Sentences for 鹑 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我用那只枪打死过几百只鹌鹑。

wǒ yòng nà zhī qiāng dǎ sǐ guò jī bǎi zhī ān chún。

I've shot hundreds of quail with that gun.
2
鹌鹑在矮树丛里沙沙作响.

ān chún zài ǎi shù cóng lǐ shā shā zuò xiǎng.

Speckled quails rustled in the underbrush.

Word Family of 鹑

Words Containing This Character2
鹌鹑quail鵪鶉
鹑chúnquail鶉
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鹌鹑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹑

It is pronounced as 'chún', with a rising tone.

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