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鴴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鴴héngplover, wading birdzg, 17 strokes, radical 鳥
héng(heng2) T2
  1. 1plover, wading bird
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鴴héng(heng2)

The character 鴴 (héng) refers specifically to a species of wading bird known as a plover. These birds are commonly found along shorelines and are known for their distinctive calls and behavior when foraging for food. In a broader context, the character can symbolize agility and grace in movement, often associated with nature and wildlife.

Strokes17Radical鳥
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, birds like the 鴴 are often used to symbolize freedom and the beauty of nature, reflecting a deep appreciation for the natural world in Chinese culture. They may also feature in art and literature that celebrates the changing seasons.

Memory Tip

Imagine a plover (鴴) standing on the shore, its long legs gracefully wading through the water. The character has a bird radical (鳥) at the bottom, emphasizing its identity as a bird. The 'héng' sound can be remembered by thinking of 'hang' as the bird hangs around the shoreline.

Meanings of 鴴

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鴴

鴴Simplified
17Strokes
鳥Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鴴

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Podcast: 鴴

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AI Study Notes for 鴴

Usage Notes

While 鴴 specifically refers to a type of bird, learners might confuse it with other similar birds or terms in Chinese. This word is more likely to appear in formal contexts, such as literature or scientific descriptions of fauna. Ensure correct pronunciation to avoid confusion with other bird names.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鴴 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for learners at higher levels to explore specialized vocabulary related to nature and wildlife. Students should focus on the context in which 鴴 appears, especially in texts discussing ecology or ornithology.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 鴴 with similar bird names, such as 鸟 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鴴 specifically refers to plovers and is more specialized, so use it in appropriate contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鴴

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Etymology of 鴴

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

A wading 行 bird 鳥; 鳥 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鴴

  1. 1The giveawayA wading 行 bird 鳥; 鳥 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 鴴? 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 鴴?

Decomposition of 鴴

IDS Structure⿰行鳥
鴴Full Character
=
行hang2
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鴴?

How to say plover, wading bird in Chinese

“plover, wading bird” in Chinese is鴴héng

The character 鴴 (héng) refers specifically to a species of wading bird known as a plover. These birds are commonly found along shorelines and are known for their distinctive calls and behavior when foraging for food. In a broader context, the character can symbolize agility and grace in movement, often associated with nature and wildlife.

When to use 鴴

While 鴴 specifically refers to a type of bird, learners might confuse it with other similar birds or terms in Chinese. This word is more likely to appear in formal contexts, such as literature or scientific descriptions of fauna. Ensure correct pronunciation to avoid confusion with other bird names.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 鴴 with similar bird names, such as 鸟 (niǎo), which means 'bird' in general. Remember that 鴴 specifically refers to plovers and is more specialized, so use it in appropriate contexts.

Write 鴴

鴴

Practice writing 鴴 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 鴴

Words Containing This Character1
鸻héngplover鴴
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鸻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鴴

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

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