How to Write 鸳 (yuān) — Meaning “male mandarin duck”

Picture a male mandarin duck with a fancy hat on top of its bird body — the top part 夗 looks like a hat, and the bottom 鸟 is the bird. You can also remember that 鸳 sounds like "you-an" as in "you and" your partner, since mandarin ducks symbolize couples.

Write the top part 夗 narrower than the bottom 鸟. The bottom 鸟 should be centered under the top to keep the character balanced. A common mistake is making the top too wide or forgetting the hook in 夗.

鸳 (yuān) has 鸟 on the bottom and means male mandarin duck. 袅 (niǎo) has 衣 on the bottom and means slender or curling, like smoke. 鸢 (yuān) has 弋 on top and means a kite (bird of prey). Notice the different top or bottom components.

鸳 is rarely used alone; it almost always appears in the compound 鸳鸯 (yuān yāng), meaning mandarin ducks or an affectionate couple. This term appears in cultural phrases like 鸳鸯火锅 (split pot hot pot) and 鸳鸯枕 (double pillow for couples), symbolizing love and togetherness.

Common words containing 鸳 include: 鸳鸯 (yuān yāng) — mandarin ducks / an affectionate couple; 鸳鸯火锅 (yuān yāng huǒ guō) — split pot hot pot (two-flavor hot pot); 鸳鸯枕 (yuān yāng zhěn) — double pillow (for a couple).