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鸚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鸚yīngparrotx, 28 strokes, radical 鳥
yīng(ying1) T1
  1. 1parrot
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鸚yīng(ying1)

The character 鸚 (yīng) refers specifically to a parrot, a type of bird known for its ability to mimic sounds and speech. In Chinese culture, parrots are often associated with intelligence and the ability to communicate, making them popular pets. They can also symbolize good fortune and happiness in certain contexts.

Strokes28Radical鳥
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, birds, including parrots, are often depicted in art and literature as symbols of freedom and joy. Parrots, in particular, are valued for their ability to mimic human speech, which is celebrated in various folk tales and sayings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a colorful parrot perched on a branch, its feathers sparkling in the sun. The character 鸚 is made up of the radical for bird (鸟) at the bottom and a phonetic component that sounds like 'yīng'. Picture the parrot saying 'yīng' as it mimics your voice, helping you remember both the sound and meaning.

Meanings of 鸚

yīng(ying1)
1parrot
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鸚

鸚Simplified
28Strokes
鳥Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鸚

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鸚

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AI Study Notes for 鸚

Usage Notes

When using 鸚, make sure to use the correct tone, as 'yīng' is the first tone and should be pronounced with a high, level pitch. Common collocations include 鸚鵡 (yīngwǔ) for 'parrot' and phrases related to pets. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words, as they may have very different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鸚 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other bird-related words, such as 鸟 (niǎo, bird) and 鸡 (jī, chicken). Students should focus on the character's components and practice pronunciation to differentiate it from similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鸚 with 鸟 (niǎo), meaning 'bird', leading to phrases like 鸚在飞 (yīng zài fēi) instead of 鸟在飞 (niǎo zài fēi) for 'the bird is flying'. Make sure to use 鸚 only when specifically referring to parrots.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鸚

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Etymology of 鸚

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鸚

  1. 1The meaning half鳥 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half嬰 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 鸚? 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 鸚?

Decomposition of 鸚

IDS Structure⿰嬰鳥
鸚Full Character
=
嬰ying1
left
鳥niao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鸚?

How to say parrot in Chinese

“parrot” in Chinese is鸚yīng

The character 鸚 (yīng) refers specifically to a parrot, a type of bird known for its ability to mimic sounds and speech. In Chinese culture, parrots are often associated with intelligence and the ability to communicate, making them popular pets. They can also symbolize good fortune and happiness in certain contexts.

When to use 鸚

When using 鸚, make sure to use the correct tone, as 'yīng' is the first tone and should be pronounced with a high, level pitch. Common collocations include 鸚鵡 (yīngwǔ) for 'parrot' and phrases related to pets. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words, as they may have very different meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鸚 with 鸟 (niǎo), meaning 'bird', leading to phrases like 鸚在飞 (yīng zài fēi) instead of 鸟在飞 (niǎo zài fēi) for 'the bird is flying'. Make sure to use 鸚 only when specifically referring to parrots.

Write 鸚

鸚

Practice writing 鸚 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 鸚

Words Containing This Character5
鹦鹉parrot鸚鵡
鹦yīngparrot鸚
鹦鹉螺nautilus鸚鵡螺
鹦鹉学舌to parrot鸚鵡學舌
鹦鹉热psittacosis鸚鵡熱
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 鹦鹉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鸚

It is pronounced as 'yīng', with a high, level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鸚?

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.