How to Write 鹊 (què) — Meaning “magpie”

Imagine a magpie on the left side of a clock (昔 looks like a clock or sundial) chirping at noon, and the right side 鸟 reminds you it's a bird. So, think of the "time-bird" that brings news — magpies are known for announcing good news.

Write the left part 昔 first: horizontal, then two verticals, then a horizontal, and a short horizontal before the final 日. The right part 鸟 should be slightly taller and narrower; pay attention to the four dots at the bottom (representing claws or tail) — they should align neatly.

鹊 (magpie) uses 昔 on the left and 鸟 on the right, while 鸷 (zhì, fierce bird) uses 执 (to hold) above the bird radical, and 鸸 (ér, emu) uses 耳 (ear) on the left. The left component is the key visual clue — 昔 vs. 执 vs. 耳.

鹊 appears in words like 喜鹊 (magpie) and 鹊桥 (magpie bridge), which comes from the legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl. In Chinese culture, magpies are symbols of happiness and good luck, often associated with joyful news or romantic reunions.

Common words containing 鹊 include: 喜鹊 (xǐ què) — Magpie; 鹊桥 (què qiáo) — magpie bridge; 喜鹊叫 (xǐ què jiào) — The magpie chirps.