How to Write 鹭 (lù) — Meaning “heron or egret”

Picture a heron standing on a road (路) — since it is a bird (鸟), the image of a "road bird" helps you remember both the shape and meaning. The top part 路 looks like a road with footprints, and the bird sits below it. This visual link makes the character easier to recall.

Write the top part 路 first, with careful proportions: the left side (足) should be narrower than the right side (各). Then add the 鸟 radical below, making sure it is centered under the top. A common mistake is making the 鸟 too small or misaligning it, so keep the bottom bird slightly wider to balance the 18 strokes.

All three share the 鸟 radical, but their top parts differ: 鹭 has 路 (road), 鹦 has 婴 (baby), and 鹧 has 者 (person). Meaning also differs: 鹭 is a heron/egret, 鹦 is a parrot, and 鹧 is a partridge. Focus on the top component to avoid mixing them up visually.

鹭 appears mainly in bird names like 白鹭 (white egret) and 苍鹭 (grey heron), and is often used in poetry and nature writing. The white egret (白鹭) is a symbol of purity and elegance in Chinese culture, frequently depicted in classical paintings. It is not a common everyday character, but it appears in literature and place names.

Common words containing 鹭 include: 白鹭 (bái lù) — Egret; 苍鹭 (cāng lù) — Grey heron; 鹭鸶 (lù sī) — egret.