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鹠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹠liúowlzg, 15 strokes, radical 鸟
liú(liu2) T2
  1. 1owl
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鹠(鶹)liú(liu2)

The character 鹠 (liú) refers to a type of owl, specifically the Eurasian eagle-owl. It is often used in literary contexts or specific discussions about birds and wildlife. In Chinese culture, owls can symbolize wisdom but also have associations with bad omens in some regions.

Strokes15Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In Chinese folklore, owls are often seen as mysterious creatures that can bring both good and bad fortune, depending on the region and context. The character 鹠 is less commonly known, indicating the specific cultural knowledge about owls that varies across China.

Memory Tip

Imagine an owl (the character 鹠) sitting on a branch at dusk, its wide eyes glowing like lanterns. The character's form includes the radical for 'bird' (鸟), hinting at its avian nature, while the pronunciation 'liú' sounds like 'lou,' a cozy sound you might associate with night and owls.

Meanings of 鹠

liú(liu2)
1owl
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹠

鹠Simplified
鶹Traditional
15Strokes
鸟Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹠

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Podcast: 鹠

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AI Study Notes for 鹠

Usage Notes

The character 鹠 is rarely used in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary or scientific texts. Learners should avoid confusing it with similar words for other birds. It is important to remember that the tone is crucial; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鹠 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to animals. Students should focus on the pronunciation and context for discussing wildlife, as it enhances their ability to describe nature in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鹠 with other bird characters like 鸟 (bird) or 鸺 (another type of owl). For example, using 鹠 in a casual conversation about pets would be incorrect; a more suitable term would be 鸟.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹠

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Etymology of 鹠

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鹠

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half留 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 鹠? 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 鹠?

Decomposition of 鹠

IDS Structure⿰留鸟
鹠Full Character
=
留liu2
left
鸟diao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹠?

How to say owl in Chinese

“owl” in Chinese is鹠liú

The character 鹠 (liú) refers to a type of owl, specifically the Eurasian eagle-owl. It is often used in literary contexts or specific discussions about birds and wildlife. In Chinese culture, owls can symbolize wisdom but also have associations with bad omens in some regions.

When to use 鹠

The character 鹠 is rarely used in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary or scientific texts. Learners should avoid confusing it with similar words for other birds. It is important to remember that the tone is crucial; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鹠 with other bird characters like 鸟 (bird) or 鸺 (another type of owl). For example, using 鹠 in a casual conversation about pets would be incorrect; a more suitable term would be 鸟.

Write 鹠

鹠

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

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Cultural Notes for 鹠

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, owls are predominantly seen as symbols of wisdom; however, in some Chinese contexts, they can also symbolize misfortune, reflecting a nuanced view of these creatures.

Word Family of 鹠

Words Containing This Character1
鹠liúcollared owlet (Glaucidium brodiei)鶹
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鹠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹠

It means 'owl,' specifically referring to species like the Eurasian eagle-owl.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鹠?

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.