鸠

鳩

jiū

九 + 鸟

Definitions

jiū turtledove; (literary) to gather

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 鸟 represents the meaning and 九 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鳩.

Semantic: 鸟 Phonetic: 九

About

鸠 is a phono-semantic compound: the right-side radical 鸟 (simplified from 鳥) indicates a bird, specifically a turtledove or pigeon, while the left-side component 九 provides the sound. Because these birds are known for flocking, the character also acquired an extended meaning of gathering or assembling, used in formal contexts for concentrating resources or people.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

树上停着一只鸠。

Shù shàng tíng zhe yī zhī jiū.

A dove is perched on the tree.

鸠的羽毛很漂亮。

Jiū de yǔmáo hěn piàoliang.

The dove's feathers are very beautiful.

那只鸠在草地上觅食。

Nà zhī jiū zài cǎodì shàng mìshí.

That dove is foraging on the grass.

斑鸠是一种常见的鸟。

Bānjiū shì yī zhǒng chángjiàn de niǎo.

The turtledove is a common type of bird.

清晨，鸠的叫声很悦耳。

Qīngchén, jiū de jiàoshēng hěn yuè'ěr.

In the early morning, the dove's call is very pleasant.

公园里有很多斑鸠在散步。

Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěnduō bānjiū zài sànbù.

There are many turtledoves walking in the park.

鸠通常以种子和昆虫为食。

Jiū tōngcháng yǐ zhǒngzi hé kūnchóng wéi shí.

Doves usually eat seeds and insects.

由于环境变化，鸠的栖息地正在减少。

Yóuyú huánjìng biànhuà, jiū de qīxīdì zhèngzài jiǎnshǎo.

Due to environmental changes, the dove's habitat is decreasing.

Related Characters

Component: 九

Component: 鸟

鸠