鸭

鴨

yā

甲 + 鸟

Definitions

yā (noun) duck

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 甲 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鴨.

Semantic: 鸟 Phonetic: 甲

About

鸭 is the simplified form of 鴨, a phonosemantic compound: the semantic component 鸟 (bird) on the right indicates its avian meaning, and the phonetic 甲 on the left provides the pronunciation. In its traditional form, 鴨 uses the full 鳥 character. Historically, the character referred to various duck species in both wild and domesticated contexts, and today it also appears in the names of duck dishes and as colloquial slang for a male prostitute; however, its fundamental definition remains the waterfowl.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

池塘里有几只鸭。

Chí táng lǐ yǒu jǐ zhǐ yā.

There are a few ducks in the pond.

妈妈买了一只烤鸭。

Māma mǎi le yī zhī kǎo yā.

Mom bought a roast duck.

小鸭子在水里游来游去。

Xiǎo yāzi zài shuǐ lǐ yóu lái yóu qù.

The ducklings are swimming back and forth in the water.

我喜欢吃北京烤鸭。

Wǒ xǐhuan chī Běijīng kǎo yā.

I like to eat Peking duck.

鸭蛋比鸡蛋大一些。

Yā dàn bǐ jī dàn dà yīxiē.

Duck eggs are a bit larger than chicken eggs.

这个故事里的丑小鸭很勇敢。

Zhège gùshi lǐ de chǒu xiǎo yā hěn yǒnggǎn.

The ugly duckling in this story is very brave.

这件羽绒服用的是鸭绒。

Zhè jiàn yǔróngfú yòng de shì yā róng.

This down jacket uses duck down.

那只黄茸茸的小鸭很快学会了游泳。

Nà zhī huáng róng róng de xiǎo yā hěn kuài xuéhuì le yóuyǒng.

That fluffy yellow duckling quickly learned how to swim.

Related Characters

Component: 甲

Component: 鸟

鸭