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鹍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹍kūna bird resembling a cranezg, 13 strokes, radical 鸟
鹍kūnlarge bird, possibly related to crane or swan (archaic)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 鸟
鹍kūnmythical monstrous bird, cf Sinbad's rocunknown, 13 strokes, radical 鸟
kūn(kun1) T1
  1. 1a bird resembling a crane
  2. 2large bird, possibly related to crane or swan (archaic)
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March 24, 2026

鹍(鵾)kūn(kun1)

The character 鹍 (kūn) refers to a large bird that resembles a crane, often associated with grandeur and myth. In classical literature, it may denote a mythical bird akin to the roc found in stories like those of Sinbad, embodying themes of power and majesty. It is generally used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.

Strokes13Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, birds like the crane symbolize longevity and wisdom, while mythical birds often represent power and luck. The 鹍 embodies these qualities, linking it to ancient tales where such creatures played significant roles in folklore.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant bird soaring majestically through the skies. The character 鹍 combines the radical for bird (鸟) with a component that suggests size and might, evoking the image of a colossal creature like the mythical roc. Think of 'kūn' as the sound of this bird's powerful wings beating against the wind.

Meanings of 鹍

kūn(kun1)
1a bird resembling a crane
2large bird, possibly related to crane or swan (archaic)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹍

鹍Simplified
鵾Traditional
13Strokes
鸟Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹍

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Podcast: 鹍

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AI Study Notes for 鹍

Usage Notes

Since 鹍 is rarely used in modern language, it may appear primarily in classical texts or literary discussions. Learners should be cautious about using it in casual conversation, as it might be confusing. Collocations with other bird-related terms or mythological references may enhance understanding.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹍 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other bird-related terms like 鸟 (niǎo) and 鹤 (hè, crane) that students might encounter at higher levels. Focus on the context in which such literary or historical terms appear to improve comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鹍 (kūn) with more common bird characters like 鸟 (niǎo) or 鹅 (é, goose). It's important to remember that 鹍 is specific to a literary context and not used colloquially.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹍

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Etymology of 鹍

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鹍

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half昆 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 鹍? 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 鹍?

Decomposition of 鹍

IDS Structure⿰昆鸟
鹍Full Character
=
昆kun1
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹍?

How to say a bird resembling a crane in Chinese

“a bird resembling a crane” in Chinese is鹍kūn

The character 鹍 (kūn) refers to a large bird that resembles a crane, often associated with grandeur and myth. In classical literature, it may denote a mythical bird akin to the roc found in stories like those of Sinbad, embodying themes of power and majesty. It is generally used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.

When to use 鹍

Since 鹍 is rarely used in modern language, it may appear primarily in classical texts or literary discussions. Learners should be cautious about using it in casual conversation, as it might be confusing. Collocations with other bird-related terms or mythological references may enhance understanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鹍 (kūn) with more common bird characters like 鸟 (niǎo) or 鹅 (é, goose). It's important to remember that 鹍 is specific to a literary context and not used colloquially.

Write 鹍

鹍

Practice writing 鹍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 鹍

Words Containing This Character1
鹍kūnmythical monstrous bird, cf Sinbad's roc鵾
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鹍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹍

It refers to a large bird resembling a crane or a mythical bird known for its grandeur.

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