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鸨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鸨bǎobustard; procuress; Otis species (various)n, 9 strokes, radical 鸟
鸨bǎoChinese bustardunknown, 9 strokes, radical 鸟
bǎo(bao3) T3
  1. 1bustard; procuress; Otis species (various)
  2. 2Chinese bustard
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鸨(鴇)bǎo(bao3)

The character 鸨 (bǎo) refers to a type of large, ground-dwelling bird known as a bustard, which is often found in open grasslands and is notable for its size and unique mating displays. In some contexts, it can also refer to a procuress, which is a woman who facilitates or manages brothels. The term is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in literary or specific zoological contexts.

Strokes9Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, certain birds like the bustard are associated with auspiciousness and are sometimes featured in art and poetry. The concept of a procuress also ties into historical views on relationships and social structures in ancient Chinese society, reflecting complex societal norms.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large bird, the bustard, strutting around in a field, proudly displaying its feathers. The character 鸨 resembles a bird with a big beak, which helps you remember its meaning. The 'b' sound in 'bustard' can connect to the 'bǎo' pronunciation, like a big bird making a bold statement.

Meanings of 鸨

bǎo(bao3)
1bustard; procuress; Otis species (various)
2Chinese bustard
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鸨

鸨Simplified
鴇Traditional
9Strokes
鸟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鸨

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Podcast: 鸨

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AI Study Notes for 鸨

Usage Notes

This term is quite specialized and may not be familiar to many Mandarin speakers; thus, it's often found in academic texts or discussions about wildlife. Be cautious about using it in casual conversation, as it may come off as overly formal or niche. Remember that 'bǎo' can also have other meanings in different contexts, so it's essential to understand the surrounding text.

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners at lower levels may not encounter it frequently. However, advanced students should focus on its usage in specific contexts, especially in literature or zoology. Connecting it to related animal vocabulary can also enhance retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 鸨 with similar-sounding words or use it incorrectly in casual settings. For example, saying '我今天看到一个 鸨' (I saw a 鸨 today) might be misleading without context, as it is not a common sight and could confuse listeners.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鸨

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Etymology of 鸨

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鸨

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half匕 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 鸨? 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 鸨?

Decomposition of 鸨

IDS Structure⿰⿱匕十鸟
鸨Full Character
=
匕bi3
top
十shi2
bottom
鸟diao3
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鸨?

How to say bustard; procuress; Otis species (various) in Chinese

“bustard; procuress; Otis species (various)” in Chinese is鸨bǎo

The character 鸨 (bǎo) refers to a type of large, ground-dwelling bird known as a bustard, which is often found in open grasslands and is notable for its size and unique mating displays. In some contexts, it can also refer to a procuress, which is a woman who facilitates or manages brothels. The term is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in literary or specific zoological contexts.

When to use 鸨

This term is quite specialized and may not be familiar to many Mandarin speakers; thus, it's often found in academic texts or discussions about wildlife. Be cautious about using it in casual conversation, as it may come off as overly formal or niche. Remember that 'bǎo' can also have other meanings in different contexts, so it's essential to understand the surrounding text.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 鸨 with similar-sounding words or use it incorrectly in casual settings. For example, saying '我今天看到一个 鸨' (I saw a 鸨 today) might be misleading without context, as it is not a common sight and could confuse listeners.

Write 鸨

鸨

Practice writing 鸨 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 鸨

Words Containing This Character4
老鸨female brothel keeper老鴇
鸨bǎoprocuress鴇
鸨母a bawd鴇母
大鸨(bird species of China) great bustard (Otis tarda)大鴇
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 老鸨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鸨

A 鸨 refers to a bustard, which is a large, ground-dwelling bird found in grasslands.

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