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鸂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鸂xīMandarin duck, Aix galericulatazg, 24 strokes, radical 鳥
xī(xi1) T1
  1. 1Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鸂xī(xi1)

The character 鸂 (xī) refers to the Mandarin duck, a species known for its strikingly colorful plumage and unique mating rituals. In Chinese culture, it symbolizes love and fidelity, often associated with romantic relationships. The character is primarily used in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife.

Strokes24Radical鳥
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the Mandarin duck symbolizes marital happiness and fidelity, making it a common motif in art, poetry, and wedding decorations. This reflects the cultural value placed on love and harmony in relationships.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautifully colored duck, the Mandarin duck, gliding on a serene lake. The 'xī' sounds like 'see', and you can visualize yourself seeing this magnificent bird with its vibrant feathers. The character 鸂 contains the radical for bird (鸟), helping you remember its meaning.

Meanings of 鸂

xī(xi1)
1Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鸂

鸂Simplified
24Strokes
鳥Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鸂

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Podcast: 鸂

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鸂

Usage Notes

While the term is specific, it's often used poetically or in literature rather than in everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with other bird-related terms, so it's important to practice using it in appropriate contexts. Remember that the tone is high and flat, as it is pronounced with the first tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鸂 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be tied to themes of nature and animals, which are common in HSK materials. Students should focus on recognizing the bird radical (鸟) in other characters to enhance their understanding of animal-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鸂 with other bird characters like 鸟 (niǎo), which simply means 'bird'. For example, saying '我喜欢鸟' (wǒ xǐhuān niǎo) when referring to Mandarin ducks is too general; instead, specify '我喜欢鸂' (wǒ xǐhuān xī) for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鸂

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Etymology of 鸂

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

Water 氵 fowl 鷄; 鷄 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鸂

  1. 1The giveawayWater 氵 fowl 鷄; 鷄 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 鸂? 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 鸂?

Decomposition of 鸂

IDS Structure⿰氵鷄
鸂Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
鷄ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鸂?

How to say Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata in Chinese

“Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata” in Chinese is鸂xī

The character 鸂 (xī) refers to the Mandarin duck, a species known for its strikingly colorful plumage and unique mating rituals. In Chinese culture, it symbolizes love and fidelity, often associated with romantic relationships. The character is primarily used in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife.

When to use 鸂

While the term is specific, it's often used poetically or in literature rather than in everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with other bird-related terms, so it's important to practice using it in appropriate contexts. Remember that the tone is high and flat, as it is pronounced with the first tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鸂 with other bird characters like 鸟 (niǎo), which simply means 'bird'. For example, saying '我喜欢鸟' (wǒ xǐhuān niǎo) when referring to Mandarin ducks is too general; instead, specify '我喜欢鸂' (wǒ xǐhuān xī) for clarity.

Write 鸂

鸂

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 鸂

You pronounce it as 'xī', with a high and flat tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鸂?

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.