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鹈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹈típelicann, 12 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #54711, Very Hard
tí(ti2) T2
  1. 1pelican
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鹈(鵜)tí(ti2)

The character 鹈 (tí) refers specifically to a pelican, a large water bird known for its distinctive long beak and throat pouch. In Chinese, this term is often used in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife and nature, as pelicans are not commonly found in most parts of China.

Strokes12Radical鸟Frequency#54711DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Pelicans are not native to China, so the character 鹈 often appears in poetic or metaphorical contexts rather than in everyday conversation. This reflects a broader theme in Chinese literature where foreign animals symbolize certain ideas or emotions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pelican with its huge beak, 'tí' sounds like 'tea', so picture the pelican sipping tea from its beak. The radical 鹿 (lù), which resembles a deer, helps remind us that this character is about a unique bird, the pelican, rather than a land mammal.

Meanings of 鹈

tí(ti2)
1pelican
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹈

鹈Simplified
鵜Traditional
12Strokes
鸟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹈

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Podcast: 鹈

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AI Study Notes for 鹈

Usage Notes

Use 鹈 primarily in formal contexts, such as literature or academic discussions about birds. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; make sure to use the correct tone (tí) and not confuse it with the character 体 (tǐ), which means 'body'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹈 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, students at HSK Level 4 or above can benefit from learning this character when studying related wildlife vocabulary. Focus on the character's pronunciation and its distinctive features to enhance your understanding of nature-related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 鹈 to refer to other birds due to its rarity in conversation. For example, using it to mean 'duck' is incorrect; instead, use 鸭 (yā) for duck.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹈

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Etymology of 鹈

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 弟 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵜.

Memory Hint

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鹈

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 弟 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵜.

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half弟 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 鹈? 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 鹈?

Decomposition of 鹈

IDS Structure⿰弟鸟
鹈Full Character
=
弟di4
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹈?

How to say pelican in Chinese

“pelican” in Chinese is鹈tí

The character 鹈 (tí) refers specifically to a pelican, a large water bird known for its distinctive long beak and throat pouch. In Chinese, this term is often used in literary contexts or discussions about wildlife and nature, as pelicans are not commonly found in most parts of China.

When to use 鹈

Use 鹈 primarily in formal contexts, such as literature or academic discussions about birds. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; make sure to use the correct tone (tí) and not confuse it with the character 体 (tǐ), which means 'body'.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 鹈 to refer to other birds due to its rarity in conversation. For example, using it to mean 'duck' is incorrect; instead, use 鸭 (yā) for duck.

Write 鹈

鹈

Practice writing 鹈 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 鹈

Words Containing This Character2
鹈鹕pelican鵜鶘
鹈típelican鵜
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鹈鹕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹈

It is pronounced as 'tí' with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鹈?

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