Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鸧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鸧cāngoriolex, 9 strokes, radical 鸟
cāng(cang1) T1
  1. 1oriole
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鸧(鶬)cāng(cang1)

The character 鸧 (cāng) refers specifically to an oriole, a type of bird known for its vibrant colors and melodious song. In Chinese culture, orioles are often associated with beauty and the arrival of spring, symbolizing renewal and joy.

Strokes9Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, the oriole often symbolizes the beauty of nature and the transient nature of life, reflecting themes of spring and renewal. The oriole's song is appreciated in various art forms, celebrating the connection between nature and human emotion.

Memory Tip

Imagine a colorful bird, the oriole, singing cheerfully in a tree. The character 鸧 resembles a bird perched on a branch, with the top part symbolizing the bird's head and the bottom part representing its body. The pronunciation 'cāng' can be remembered by associating it with 'sang,' as in the bird singing.

Meanings of 鸧

cāng(cang1)
1oriole
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鸧

鸧Simplified
鶬Traditional
9Strokes
鸟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鸧

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鸧

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鸧

Usage Notes

While 鸧 (cāng) is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary or poetic contexts. It's important to note that this character is often confused with similar bird-related characters. Ensure correct pronunciation with the first tone, as using a different tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鸧 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners should focus on bird-related vocabulary at this level, such as 鸟 (niǎo) for 'bird' and other characters with similar structures. This can enhance comprehension and provide context for understanding Chinese wildlife symbolism.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鸧 with other bird characters due to similar components, such as 鸟 (niǎo). Remember that 鸧 specifically refers to the oriole, while 鸟 is a general term for 'bird.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鸧

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 鸧 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 鸧

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鸧

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half仓 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 鸧? 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 鸧?

Decomposition of 鸧

IDS Structure⿰仓鸟
鸧Full Character
=
仓cang1
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鸧?

How to say oriole in Chinese

“oriole” in Chinese is鸧cāng

The character 鸧 (cāng) refers specifically to an oriole, a type of bird known for its vibrant colors and melodious song. In Chinese culture, orioles are often associated with beauty and the arrival of spring, symbolizing renewal and joy.

When to use 鸧

While 鸧 (cāng) is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary or poetic contexts. It's important to note that this character is often confused with similar bird-related characters. Ensure correct pronunciation with the first tone, as using a different tone can change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鸧 with other bird characters due to similar components, such as 鸟 (niǎo). Remember that 鸧 specifically refers to the oriole, while 鸟 is a general term for 'bird.'

Write 鸧

鸧

Practice writing 鸧 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 鸧

Words Containing This Character1
鸧cāngoriole鶬
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鸧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鸧

The correct pronunciation is 'cāng' with a high level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鸧?

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.