Meaning
鳥 is a striking pictograph that captures the silhouette of a bird. While it represents any avian creature, it often refers to poultry or small songbirds in daily life. Historically, the character evolved from ancient oracle bone inscriptions. It began as a literal drawing of a bird, complete with a beak, a clear eye, a wing, and a tail. Over centuries, these features were stylized into the 11-stroke character we use today. The top portion represents the head and beak, while the small box with a horizontal stroke depicts the eye. The central part forms the body and wings. At the bottom, four dots—which often represent fire in other kanji—here signify long tail feathers or claws. Japanese children learn this 2nd-grade 'Kyōiku' kanji early on. It also serves as its own radical, appearing in species-specific kanji like 鳩 (pigeon) or 鶏 (chicken). Beyond biology, the character appears in traditional culture, notably in 鳥居, the iconic gates found at the entrance of Shinto shrines.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
You will encounter the reading チョウ primarily in formal, scientific, or academic compounds. It is the standard reading used in biology to categorize species. Since this sound is shared by other common kanji like 町 (town), the meaning is usually clear from the surrounding context.
- 鳥類 (chourui) — birds; the aves class: The technical term used in zoology and animal classification.
- 白鳥 (hakuchou) — swan: Literally 'white bird,' describing the graceful waterfowl often seen in Japanese parks.
- 野鳥 (yachou) — wild bird: Frequently used in the context of birdwatching or environmental conservation.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The native Japanese reading is とり. This is the most common way to read the character when it stands alone as a noun or appears in everyday words related to food. In certain compounds, the sound shifts to どり due to a phonetic process called 'rendaku.'
- 鳥 (tori) — bird; chicken: The general term for birds, but also the standard word for chicken meat on a menu.
- 小鳥 (kotori) — small bird: A charming term for songbirds like sparrows or pet finches.
- 渡り鳥 (wataridori) — migratory bird: Describes birds that travel seasonally, such as the cranes that visit Hokkaido.
Common Words & Compounds
This kanji appears in a variety of essential vocabulary, from nature terms to popular street foods. These examples highlight how deeply 'bird' is integrated into Japanese life.
Nature and Biology
- 鳥の巣 (tori no su) — bird's nest: A literal description of an avian home.
- 雛鳥 (hinadori) — chick; baby bird: Refers to young birds before they fledge.
- 水鳥 (mizutori) — waterfowl: Aquatic birds such as ducks, geese, or teal.
- 雄鳥 (ondori) — rooster; male bird: A specific term for a male bird.
- 雌鳥 (mendori) — hen; female bird: A specific term for a female bird.
Cuisine and Everyday Life
- 焼き鳥 (yakitori) — grilled chicken skewers: A staple of Japanese izakayas and street festivals.
- 鳥肌 (torihada) — goosebumps: Literally 'bird skin,' describing the texture of skin when you are cold or frightened.
- 鳥籠 (torikago) — birdcage: The enclosure used for keeping pet birds.
Idioms and Formal Terms
- 一石二鳥 (isseki nichou) — killing two birds with one stone: A common four-character idiom for achieving two results with one effort.
- 愛鳥 (aichou) — pet bird; bird protection: Used by hobbyists or in the context of 'Bird Week' in Japan.
Example Sentences
鳥が木の上で鳴いています。
tori ga ki no ue de naite imasu.
A bird is singing in the tree.
私は朝、空を飛んでいる白鳥を見ました。
watashi wa asa, sora wo tonde iru hakuchou wo mimashita.
This morning, I saw a swan flying across the sky.
公園で小鳥にえさをあげてはいけません。
kouen de kotori ni esa wo agete wa ikemasen.
Please do not feed the small birds in the park.
冬になると、たくさんの渡り鳥が南へ行きます。
fuyu ni naru to, takusan no wataridori ga minami he ikimasu.
In winter, many migratory birds head south.
怖い話を聞いて、鳥肌が立ちました。
kowai hanashi wo kiite, torihada ga tachimashita.
I got goosebumps listening to that scary story.
日本の居酒屋で焼き鳥を食べるのが好きです。
nihon no izakaya de yakitori wo taberu no ga suki desu.
I love eating yakitori at Japanese pubs.
彼は大学で鳥類の研究をしています。
kare wa daigaku de chourui no kenkyuu wo shite imasu.
He is studying ornithology at the university.
自転車で行けば、運動にもなるし節約にもなるので、まさに一石二鳥です。
jitensha de ikeba, undou ni mo naru shi setsuyaku ni mo naru node, masa ni isseki nichou desu.
Cycling is both exercise and a way to save money—it's truly killing two birds with one stone.
籠から鳥が逃げてしまいました。
kago kara tori ga nigete shimaimashita.
The bird escaped from its cage.
山には珍しい野鳥がたくさんいます。
yama ni wa mezurashii yachou ga takusan imasu.
There are many rare wild birds in the mountains.
Related Kanji
- 物 — Thing, Object, Matter (Kanji N4)
- 田 — Rice Field (Kanji N4)
- 明 — Bright, Clear, Light (Kanji N4)
- 地 — Ground, Earth, Land (Kanji N4)
- 春 — Spring (Kanji N4)
- 菜 — Vegetable, Greens, Dish (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Imagine a bird perched on a branch. The very top horizontal line is its sharp beak. The box just below, with a single stroke inside, is the bird's large, watchful eye. The vertical and horizontal lines forming the main body represent its torso and wings. Finally, the four dots at the bottom are the sweeping tail feathers that help it balance. Note that 'horse' (馬) and 'fish' (魚) also have these four dots, representing legs or fins. For the bird, think of them as feathers taking flight.