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鼯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼯wúflying squirreln, 20 strokes, radical 鼠
鼯wúPetaurista leucogenysunknown, 20 strokes, radical 鼠
wú(wu2) T2
  1. 1flying squirrel
  2. 2Petaurista leucogenys
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March 24, 2026

鼯wú(wu2)

The character 鼯 (wú) refers to the flying squirrel, a type of gliding mammal known for its ability to glide between trees. It is commonly found in forested areas and is notable for its large flaps of skin that extend from its wrists to its ankles, allowing it to glide through the air. This term is primarily used in zoological contexts and is less common in everyday conversation.

Strokes20Radical鼠
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the flying squirrel is sometimes associated with agility and adaptability due to its gliding ability, making it a symbol for those who navigate challenges with grace. Additionally, the flying squirrel is part of various folk tales and may symbolize cleverness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a flying squirrel soaring gracefully through the trees, its gliding wings resembling the character 鼯. The character's radical 鼠 (shǔ), meaning 'mouse', hints at its rodent family, while the sound 'wú' can remind you of the swoosh of wind as the squirrel glides.

Meanings of 鼯

wú(wu2)
1flying squirrel
2Petaurista leucogenys
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鼯

鼯Simplified
20Strokes
鼠Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼯

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Podcast: 鼯

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AI Study Notes for 鼯

Usage Notes

This term is relatively specialized and may not be familiar to all Chinese speakers. Be cautious when using it in informal conversations, as it may come off as overly technical. Common collocations include '飞鼠' (fēi shǔ), meaning 'flying squirrel', which can help clarify the context when discussing these animals.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be a useful addition for learners interested in wildlife. Students should focus on the component 鼠 and its connections to other animal-related terms, enhancing their vocabulary in the zoological context.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鼯 with other similar characters due to pronunciation or radical similarities. For instance, using 鼠 (shǔ) instead of 鼯 (wú) when referring to a flying squirrel would be incorrect, as 鼠 refers to 'mouse'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼯

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Etymology of 鼯

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

mouse

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鼯

  1. 1The meaning half鼠 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half吾 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymouse
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 鼯? 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 鼯?

Decomposition of 鼯

IDS Structure⿰鼠吾
鼯Full Character
=
鼠shu3
left
吾Wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鼯?

How to say flying squirrel in Chinese

“flying squirrel” in Chinese is鼯wú

The character 鼯 (wú) refers to the flying squirrel, a type of gliding mammal known for its ability to glide between trees. It is commonly found in forested areas and is notable for its large flaps of skin that extend from its wrists to its ankles, allowing it to glide through the air. This term is primarily used in zoological contexts and is less common in everyday conversation.

When to use 鼯

This term is relatively specialized and may not be familiar to all Chinese speakers. Be cautious when using it in informal conversations, as it may come off as overly technical. Common collocations include '飞鼠' (fēi shǔ), meaning 'flying squirrel', which can help clarify the context when discussing these animals.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鼯 with other similar characters due to pronunciation or radical similarities. For instance, using 鼠 (shǔ) instead of 鼯 (wú) when referring to a flying squirrel would be incorrect, as 鼠 refers to 'mouse'.

Write 鼯

鼯

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

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Word Family of 鼯

Words Containing This Character2
鼯wúflying squirrel
鼯鼠flying squirrel
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鼯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鼯

It means 'flying squirrel', a type of gliding mammal.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鼯?

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