Search…

Search blog post titles and content.

N4

Kanji 鳥: meanings, readings, and example words.

2 min read

Kanji 鳥: bird, chicken

Key takeaways

Kanji 鳥: bird, chicken. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

鳥
N4

Meaning

birdchicken

On reading

ちょう

Kun reading

とり

Radical

鳥

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 鳥

bird, chicken

Kanji structure breakdown

鳥

Structure breakdown

灬

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This character is a pictograph depicting a bird. The upper part represents the bird's head and wings, while the four dots (灬) at the bottom symbolize its feet or tail feathers. It is used to mean 'bird' in words like 'bird species' (조류) or 'swan' (백조).

On'yomi and kun'yomi

Kun reading

とり
  • 鳥居とりい

    Shinto shrine gate

  • 小鳥ことり

    small bird

  • 鳥とり

    bird

Commonly used words

  • 鳥居
    とりい

    Shinto shrine gate

  • 小鳥
    ことり

    small bird

  • 鳥
    とり

    bird

Example sentences

Example 1

鳥居をくぐって神社に入る。

Translation

I pass through the torii to enter the shrine.

Example 2

赤い鳥居が並んでいる道です。

Translation

This is a path lined with red torii gates.

Example 3

秋になると渡り鳥が南へ飛びます。

Translation

Migratory birds fly south in autumn.

Example 4

渡り鳥の習性を研究しています。

Translation

I am studying the habits of migratory birds.

Kanji 鳥: bird, chicken | Daily Nihongo