How to Write 鹈 (tí) — Meaning “Pelican”

Imagine a pelican sitting on a dock, saying 'tea' (tí) because it wants a cup of tea. The left part 弟 looks like a little brother holding a cup, and the right part 鸟 is the bird. Visualizing this silly scene can help you recall both the sound and meaning.

Pay attention to the left component 弟: it has 7 strokes and a hook at the bottom, and the right component 鸟 has 5 strokes. A common mistake is making the left side too wide or forgetting the dot on top of 鸟. Keep the left side narrower and the bird side slightly taller.

鹈 specifically means 'pelican' and uses 鸟 as its radical. 袅 (niǎo) means 'slender' or 'delicate' and has the radical 衣 (clothing) combined with 鸟, while 鸪 (gū) is used only in the word 鹧鸪 (partridge). Visually, 袅 is more complex with extra strokes on top, and 鸪 has 古 on the left instead of 弟.

鹈 is almost always used in the word 鹈鹕 (tí hú), meaning 'pelican.' It is not a common standalone character and is mostly seen in nature documentaries, zoos, or bird-related contexts. There is also a literary term 鹈鴂 (tí jué) meaning 'shrike,' but this is rare in daily conversation.

Common words containing 鹈 include: 鹈鹕 (tí hú) — Pelican; 鹈鴂 (tí jué) — Shrike; 鹈鹕群 (tí hú qún) — A flock of pelicans.