Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鹇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹇xiánsilver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera; Lophura species (various)x, 12 strokes, radical 鸟
鹇xiánsilver pheasant badge worn by civil officials of the 5th gradeunknown, 12 strokes, radical 鸟
xián(xian2) T2
  1. 1silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera; Lophura species (various)
  2. 2silver pheasant badge worn by civil officials of the 5th grade
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鹇(鷳)xián(xian2)

The character 鹇 (xián) refers primarily to the silver pheasant, a bird known for its striking plumage and often found in the forests of Southeast Asia. It can also signify a type of badge worn by civil officials in ancient China, related to the fifth grade of the bureaucratic hierarchy. In contemporary contexts, it is less commonly used but carries historical significance.

Strokes12Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the silver pheasant was associated with nobility and elegance, often featured in poetry and art. The badge representing this bird was worn by officials, symbolizing their rank and status in society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a silver pheasant strutting with pride in a lush green forest, its shiny feathers sparkling in the sunlight. The character 鹇 can be broken down into the radical for bird (鸟) and an element that suggests elegance, reflecting the beauty of this bird. Remember 'xián' as it sounds like 'shiny' to link it to the pheasant's dazzling appearance.

Meanings of 鹇

xián(xian2)
1silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera; Lophura species (various)
2silver pheasant badge worn by civil officials of the 5th grade
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹇

鹇Simplified
鷳Traditional
12Strokes
鸟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹇

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鹇

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鹇

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鹇 with similar bird characters, so it’s important to pay attention to the tones and radicals. This character is more formal and may not be widely used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to birds or official titles.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹇 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it is useful for learners interested in historical and cultural contexts. Connecting it to other bird-related vocabulary (like 鸟 niǎo) can enhance understanding of wildlife in Chinese language and literature. Focus on pronunciation and recognizing the character in historical texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly write 鹇 with the wrong radicals, confusing it with other bird characters like 鸟. Remember that the correct form includes the bird radical (鸟) on the left side of the character.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹇

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 鹇 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 鹇

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鹇

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half闲 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 鹇? 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 鹇?

Decomposition of 鹇

IDS Structure⿰闲鸟
鹇Full Character
=
闲xian2
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹇?

How to say silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera; Lophura species (various) in Chinese

“silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera; Lophura species (various)” in Chinese is鹇xián

The character 鹇 (xián) refers primarily to the silver pheasant, a bird known for its striking plumage and often found in the forests of Southeast Asia. It can also signify a type of badge worn by civil officials in ancient China, related to the fifth grade of the bureaucratic hierarchy. In contemporary contexts, it is less commonly used but carries historical significance.

When to use 鹇

Learners often confuse 鹇 with similar bird characters, so it’s important to pay attention to the tones and radicals. This character is more formal and may not be widely used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to birds or official titles.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly write 鹇 with the wrong radicals, confusing it with other bird characters like 鸟. Remember that the correct form includes the bird radical (鸟) on the left side of the character.

Write 鹇

鹇

Practice writing 鹇 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 鹇

Words Containing This Character1
鹇xiánsilver pheasant (Phasianus nycthemerus)鷴
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鹇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹇

鹇 symbolizes nobility and elegance, often associated with high-ranking officials.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鹇?

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.