When the formation data identifies 隹 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
隹
Radical 172 of 214 · 8 strokes
Short tailed bird
zhuī
Unicode uses 隹 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is short-tailed bird; Kangxi radical 172. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
15 course characters60 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
15 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 15 characters.
雖suīalthough, even thoughDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: This character originally was used to describe some sort of lizard-like animal. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
- 口Pictographic componentmouth
- 虫Pictographic componentbug; insect; worm
- 隹Phonetic componentbird
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 虽 + 隹
HSK words with 雖1 word in this course
雞jīchickenDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Originally was a pictograph of a chicken. Later changed to a phonosemantic compound of 奚 and 隹 (bird).
- 奚Phonetic componentslave
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 奚 + 隹
HSK words with 雞1 word in this course
離lírare beast; strange; elegantDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 离 represents the sound. The 隹 (bird) component alludes to a bird flying away.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 离Phonetic componentmythical beast; (simp.) leave; depart; away from
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 离 + 隹
HSK words with 離6 words in this course
难nánhard, difficult, arduous; unableDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 堇 represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "type of bird", which is unrelated to the modern meaning. The simplified character 难 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 難.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 又Simplified form(hand); again
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 又 + 隹
- Also indexed under
- 又 again
HSK words with 难13 words in this course
隻zhīonly, merely, justDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Used as a measure word for birds, and some other animals and objects.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 又Semantic component(hand); again
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 隹 + 又
HSK words with 隻1 word in this course
雙shuāngpair, couple; both; measure word for things that come in pairsDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Depicts a pair of birds in the hand.
- 隹Pictographic componentbird
- 隹Pictographic componentbird
- 又Pictographic component(hand); again
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 雔 + 又
HSK words with 雙3 words in this course
難nánhard, difficult, arduous; unableDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 堇 represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "type of bird", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 堇Phonetic componentclay
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 堇 + 隹
HSK words with 難13 words in this course
雜zámix, blend; various, miscellaneousDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 衣 represents the meaning and 集 represents the sound.
- 衣Semantic componentclothes
- 集Phonetic componentgather; collect
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 亠 + 从 + 木 + 隹
HSK words with 雜6 words in this course
集jíto gather, to collect; set, collectionDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Depicts a bird (隹) gathering wood (木) to build a nest.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 木Semantic componentwood; tree
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 隹 + 木
HSK words with 集5 words in this course
雄xióngalpha male, hero; manlyDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: 隹 contributes the broad semantic category “bird”; 厷 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 厷 + 隹
HSK words with 雄4 words in this course
雀quèsparrowDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A small 小 bird 隹
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 小 + 隹
HSK words with 雀1 word in this course
雇gùemployment; to hire, to employDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound. Originally was the name of a type of bird. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 户Phonetic componentdoor
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 户 + 隹
HSK words with 雇2 words in this course
雅yǎelegant, graceful, refinedDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 牙 represents the sound.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 牙Phonetic componenttooth
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 牙 + 隹
HSK words with 雅1 word in this course
雌cífemale; feminine; gentle, softDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 此 represents the sound.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 此Phonetic componentthis
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 此 + 隹
HSK words with 雌1 word in this course
雕diāoto carve, to engrave; eagle, vultureDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 周 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鵰.
- 隹Semantic componentbird
- 周Phonetic componentZhou dynasty; circle; cycle (simp.) week
- Category radical
- 隹 short tailed bird
- Visual structure
- 周 + 隹
HSK words with 雕2 words in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.