啄

zhuó

口 + 豖

Definitions

zhuó to peck

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 豖

About

啄 is a phono-semantic compound describing a bird's specific action of pecking. The semantic radical 口 (mouth) indicates it relates to oral or beak actions, while 豖 provides the pronunciation. Its meaning is confined to the rapid, downward striking motion of avian feeding or a woodpecker drilling, distinguishing it from general eating, biting, or striking by humans or other animals.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

啄木鸟在树上啄虫子。

Zhuó mù niǎo zài shù shàng zhuó chóng zi.

The woodpecker pecks insects on the tree.

小鸡在地上啄米。

Xiǎo jī zài dì shàng zhuó mǐ.

The chicks are pecking rice on the ground.

鸟儿啄食树上的果实。

Niǎo er zhuó shí shù shàng de guǒ shí.

Birds peck at the fruits on the tree.

公鸡用嘴啄地上的种子。

Gōng jī yòng zuǐ zhuó dì shàng de zhǒng zi.

The rooster uses its beak to peck seeds on the ground.

我看到一只鸟在啄窗户。

Wǒ kàn dào yī zhī niǎo zài zhuó chuāng hu.

I saw a bird pecking at the window.

啄木鸟不停地啄树皮，寻找昆虫。

Zhuó mù niǎo bù tíng de zhuó shù pí, xún zhǎo kūn chóng.

The woodpecker continuously pecks the bark, searching for insects.

如果鸟儿饿了，它们会啄食任何可吃的东西。

Rú guǒ niǎo er è le, tā men huì zhuó shí rèn hé kě chī de dōng xi.

If birds are hungry, they will peck at anything edible.

那只受伤的鸽子只能用一只脚站立，勉强啄食。

Nà zhī shòu shāng de gē zi zhǐ néng yòng yī zhī jiǎo zhàn lì, miǎn qiǎng zhuó shí.

That injured pigeon can only stand on one foot, barely pecking at food.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 豖

啄