鸟

• Pinyin: niǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 鸟 = simplified form of 鳥, a pictograph of a bird

Meaning

Bird. The general word for any bird.

A general term covering all species of birds. Used in everyday language, nature descriptions, and many idioms. Common in compounds like 小鸟 (little bird) and 鸟巢 (bird's nest).

Examples

1. 树上有两只小鸟。 There are two little birds in the tree.
2. 这只鸟的颜色很好看。 This bird has beautiful colours.
3. 早上我总能听到鸟叫。 I can always hear birds singing in the morning.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, everyday, animals

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 公园里有很多鸟。(There are many birds in the park.)
• 这只鸟会唱歌。(This bird can sing.)

Don't Say

• 不要用鸟来骂人 (In some dialects, 鸟 can be a rude insult — avoid using it in unfamiliar regional contexts)

Origin & History

Pictographic character originally depicting a bird with a long tail. One of the oldest Chinese characters, found in oracle bone inscriptions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal