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鹱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鹱hùwaterfowlg, 18 strokes, radical 鸟
hù(hu4) T4
  1. 1waterfowl
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鹱hù(hu4)

The character 鹱 (hù) refers to a type of waterfowl, specifically the cormorant. It is often used in contexts related to nature, wildlife, and birdwatching. In literature and poetry, this character can evoke imagery of lakes and rivers, reflecting the beauty of aquatic life.

Strokes18Radical鸟
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, waterfowl like the cormorant are often associated with fishing techniques, especially in regions where cormorant fishing is practiced. This reflects a deep connection between culture, nature, and traditional practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cormorant, a waterfowl, with its long neck resembling a 'hook' (sounds like 'hù') as it dives into the water to catch fish. The character 鹱 has the radical for bird (鸟), which helps you remember it's a type of bird.

Meanings of 鹱

hù(hu4)
1waterfowl
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鹱

鹱Simplified
18Strokes
鸟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鹱

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鹱

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鹱

Quick Contrast

鸬鹚 (lú cí, cormorant) — use 鹱 (hù) for literary or poetic contexts, while 鸬鹚 (lú cí) is more common in everyday language.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鹱 with similar bird characters such as 鸟 (bird) or 鱼 (fish). This term is more formal and may appear in literature or academic texts rather than casual conversation. Be mindful of using it in appropriate contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Though 鹱 is not an HSK level word, it connects with other wildlife vocabulary you might encounter in advanced studies. Focus on the combination of radicals and its usage in nature-related contexts as you expand your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners may incorrectly use 鹱 as a general term for any bird, leading to confusion. Remember that it specifically refers to cormorants, not all waterfowl.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鹱

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Etymology of 鹱

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

bird

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鹱

  1. 1The meaning half鸟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half蒦 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 鹱? 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 鹱?

Decomposition of 鹱

IDS Structure⿰鸟蒦
鹱Full Character
=
鸟diao3
left
蒦huo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鹱?

How to say waterfowl in Chinese

“waterfowl” in Chinese is鹱hù

The character 鹱 (hù) refers to a type of waterfowl, specifically the cormorant. It is often used in contexts related to nature, wildlife, and birdwatching. In literature and poetry, this character can evoke imagery of lakes and rivers, reflecting the beauty of aquatic life.

When to use 鹱

Learners often confuse 鹱 with similar bird characters such as 鸟 (bird) or 鱼 (fish). This term is more formal and may appear in literature or academic texts rather than casual conversation. Be mindful of using it in appropriate contexts.

鹱 or something close to it

鸬鹚 (lú cí, cormorant) — use 鹱 (hù) for literary or poetic contexts, while 鸬鹚 (lú cí) is more common in everyday language.

What learners get wrong

Learners may incorrectly use 鹱 as a general term for any bird, leading to confusion. Remember that it specifically refers to cormorants, not all waterfowl.

Write 鹱

鹱

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 鹱

鹱 specifically refers to cormorants, while 鸟 is a general term for birds.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鹱?

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.