鸟
The 鸟 radical
Bird
Variants: 鳥
Memory hook
A bird perched on a branch
The 鸟 radical (read niǎo) means bird. The HSK 3.0 data contains 10 characters and 17 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 鸟 radical
Study this radical's 17 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 鸟 radical
10 charactersHSK 1· 1 characters
HSK 1鸡
chicken
HSK 2· 1 characters
HSK 2鸟
bird
HSK 5· 1 characters
HSK 5鸭
duck
HSK 7-9· 7 characters
HSK 7-9鸣
to cry out, to chirp, to make a sound
鸦
crow
鸽
dove, pigeon
鹅
goose
鹏
a great mythical bird
鹤
crane (the bird, a symbol of longevity and nobility)
鹰
eagle
Vocabulary with the 鸟 radical
17 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 鸟 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (16/17 words of this radical).
egg (chicken egg)
bird
chicken
roast duck
duck
rooster
hen
crane (a legendary bird, a symbol of longevity and the realm of immortals)
resonance
swan
bird's nest
dead silent, not a sound
pigeon, dove
goose
A great and bright future ahead (used to offer blessings).
A crane standing among chickens (a metaphor for a talented person standing out conspicuously in a crowd).
Why learn vocabulary by the 鸟 radical?
The 鸟 radical hints at the meaning bird. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 10 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 17 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.