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鶉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鶉chúnquail; Turnix species (various)x, 19 strokes, radical 鳥
chún(chun2) T2
  1. 1quail; Turnix species (various)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鶉chún(chun2)

The character 鶉 (chún) refers to a type of quail, particularly species in the Turnix genus. These birds are often associated with their small size and distinctive calls, and the term can be used both in a biological context and in poetry to evoke certain imagery related to nature.

Strokes19Radical鳥
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, birds like the 鶉 are often symbols of beauty and tranquility, reflecting the appreciation of nature in traditional Chinese culture. The quail is also mentioned in classic texts as a symbol of fidelity and harmony.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny bird, the quail, chirping sweetly in a lush garden. The character 鶉 resembles a bird perched on a branch, with the radical 鳥 (bird) at the top, reminding you of its avian nature. The pronunciation 'chún' can be remembered by thinking of 'chun' as a soft, gentle sound like the quail's call.

Meanings of 鶉

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鶉

鶉Simplified
19Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鶉

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Podcast: 鶉

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AI Study Notes for 鶉

Usage Notes

When using 鶉 in conversation or writing, it is typically in a more formal or literary context, as everyday discussions rarely involve this specific bird. Be cautious with the pronunciation; learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include '鶉的叫声' (the call of the quail).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鶉 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to themes of nature present in HSK Level 3 and above. Students should focus on its usage in descriptive language and poetry, enhancing their vocabulary around animals and nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鶉 with similar bird characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 鳥 instead of 鶉 when referring specifically to quails is a common mistake; remember to use 鶉 for the quail species.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鶉

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Etymology of 鶉

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)鳥
+
Phonetic (sound)享
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鶉

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

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 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 鶉? 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 鶉?

Decomposition of 鶉

IDS Structure⿰享鳥
鶉Full Character
=
享xiang3
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鶉?

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

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

The character 鶉 (chún) refers to a type of quail, particularly species in the Turnix genus. These birds are often associated with their small size and distinctive calls, and the term can be used both in a biological context and in poetry to evoke certain imagery related to nature.

When to use 鶉

When using 鶉 in conversation or writing, it is typically in a more formal or literary context, as everyday discussions rarely involve this specific bird. Be cautious with the pronunciation; learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include '鶉的叫声' (the call of the quail).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鶉 with similar bird characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 鳥 instead of 鶉 when referring specifically to quails is a common mistake; remember to use 鶉 for the quail species.

Write 鶉

鶉

Practice writing 鶉 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 鶉

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 鶉

While 鳥 (niǎo) is a general term for birds, 鶉 specifically refers to the quail, a particular species. It highlights the importance of specificity in Chinese vocabulary.

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