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鹚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹚cícormorantx, 14 strokes, radical 鸟
cí(ci2) T2
  1. 1cormorant
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鹚(鶿)cí(ci2)

The character 鹚 (cí) refers specifically to a cormorant, a type of water bird known for its fishing abilities. In Chinese culture, cormorants are often associated with fishing practices, particularly in certain regions where fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish. This term may be encountered in discussions about wildlife, fishing, or nature.

Strokes14Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In some regions of China, especially in the south, cormorants are traditionally trained to fish, showcasing a unique aspect of folk culture. This practice highlights the relationship between humans and nature, as well as the resourcefulness of local fishing communities.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cormorant diving into water to catch fish. The character 鹚 resembles a bird in flight with its wings spread. The 'c' in 'cormorant' helps you remember the pronunciation 'cí' while the radical for 'bird' (鸟) emphasizes its avian nature.

Meanings of 鹚

cí(ci2)
1cormorant
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹚

鹚Simplified
鶿Traditional
14Strokes
鸟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹚

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Podcast: 鹚

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AI Study Notes for 鹚

Quick Contrast

鸬鹚 (lúcí) vs 鹚 (cí): Use 鹚 (cí) specifically for cormorants in a general sense, while 鸬鹚 (lúcí) refers to the specific species of cormorant.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鹚 with other bird-related terms. It's important to use this term specifically for cormorants rather than for all birds. Use it in contexts related to nature, fishing, or more formal discussions about wildlife.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this character can enhance your knowledge of birds in Chinese. Focus on related terms like 鸟 (bird) and 渔夫 (fisherman) to build a broader vocabulary in environmental and fishing contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 鹚 to refer to other types of birds, such as 鸟 (bird) in general. Remember, 鹚 specifically denotes a cormorant.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹚

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Etymology of 鹚

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鹚

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half兹 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 鹚? 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 鹚?

Decomposition of 鹚

IDS Structure⿰兹鸟
鹚Full Character
=
兹zi1
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹚?

How to say cormorant in Chinese

“cormorant” in Chinese is鹚cí

The character 鹚 (cí) refers specifically to a cormorant, a type of water bird known for its fishing abilities. In Chinese culture, cormorants are often associated with fishing practices, particularly in certain regions where fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish. This term may be encountered in discussions about wildlife, fishing, or nature.

When to use 鹚

Learners often confuse 鹚 with other bird-related terms. It's important to use this term specifically for cormorants rather than for all birds. Use it in contexts related to nature, fishing, or more formal discussions about wildlife.

鹚 or something close to it

鸬鹚 (lúcí) vs 鹚 (cí): Use 鹚 (cí) specifically for cormorants in a general sense, while 鸬鹚 (lúcí) refers to the specific species of cormorant.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 鹚 to refer to other types of birds, such as 鸟 (bird) in general. Remember, 鹚 specifically denotes a cormorant.

Write 鹚

鹚

Practice writing 鹚 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 鹚

Words Containing This Character2
鸬鹚cormorant鸕鶿
鹚cícormorant鶿
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鸬鹚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹚

Cormorants are often used by fishermen in traditional fishing techniques, where they are trained to catch fish.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鹚?

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.