Meaning
bird
Chinese: 鸟类动物。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “niao” becomes a different word in each tone. 鸟 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 鸟巢niǎo cháobird's nest; nickname for Beijing 2008 Olympic stadium
- 鸟道niǎo dàoa road only a bird can manage; steep dangerous road
- 鸟事niǎo shìdamn thing; (not one's) goddamn business
- 好鸟hǎo niǎoperson of good character; nice person; bird with a melodious voice or beautiful plumage
- 小鸟xiǎo niǎosmall bird; young bird (hatchling, nestling, fledgling, chick); (fig.) penis (kiddie term); (golf) birdie
Example Sentence
树上的小鸟在欢快地唱歌。Shù shàng de xiǎo niǎo zài huān kuài de chàng gē.The little birds on the tree are singing happily.
树Shùtree上shàngon的deof小鸟xiǎo niǎosmall bird在zàiat欢快huān kuàicheerful and lighthearted地de(adverb marker)唱歌chàng gēto sing a song。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A pictograph of a bird, with the dot marking its eye. Simplified from 鳥. It means ‘bird’.
A way to remember it
An outlined bird with one dot for the eye.