Meanings of 鹄
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About 鹄
Podcast: 鹄
Podcast: 鹄
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AI Study Notes for 鹄
Learners often confuse 鹄 with similar characters like 鸥 (ōu, seagull) due to their bird associations. In formal writing, 鹄 is more prevalent in literary texts or poetic expressions rather than in everyday speech. Be mindful of the tone; gǔ (third tone) should not be confused with gù (fourth tone).
Though 鹄 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it provides an opportunity to explore related characters about birds (like 鸟, niǎo) and targets (like 目标, mùbiāo). Focus on pronunciation and context, as understanding its literary usage may enhance your reading skills.
A common mistake is using 鹄 to refer to any bird, while it specifically denotes a swan. For example, saying '我看到很多鹄在湖边' (Wǒ kàn dào hěn duō gǔ zài hú biān) is incorrect; instead, use 鸟 (niǎo) for 'bird.'
Pronunciation of 鹄
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Etymology of 鹄
Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 告 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵠.
bird
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 鹄
Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 告 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵠.
- 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half告 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaybird
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 鹄? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 鹄
Identify the Components
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How to say swan in Chinese
“swan” in Chinese is鹄
The character 鹄 (gǔ) primarily refers to a swan, which is a large waterbird known for its grace and beauty. It can also denote the center or bull's eye of an archery target, symbolizing a goal or target to aim for. This character is often used in literary contexts and may not be as commonly encountered in everyday conversation.
When to use 鹄
Learners often confuse 鹄 with similar characters like 鸥 (ōu, seagull) due to their bird associations. In formal writing, 鹄 is more prevalent in literary texts or poetic expressions rather than in everyday speech. Be mindful of the tone; gǔ (third tone) should not be confused with gù (fourth tone).
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 鹄 to refer to any bird, while it specifically denotes a swan. For example, saying '我看到很多鹄在湖边' (Wǒ kàn dào hěn duō gǔ zài hú biān) is incorrect; instead, use 鸟 (niǎo) for 'bird.'
Write 鹄
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Practice writing 鹄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 鹄
Compound Meaning
What does 鹄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鹄
It is pronounced as gǔ, with a third tone.
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