Anatidae
鸭科
yā kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

The geese, swans, and ducks are familiar and distinctive birds that have provided the source of two types of domesticated fowl in Asian countries. A variety of local and dialect terms exists for the most common members of this family, especially the geese and ducks. The most familiar names tend to be those of domestic birds.

The Chinese term for 'duck' is 鸭 yā. In the ordinary spoken language this is normally 鸭子 yāzi in isolation, 鸭 yā in combination. Ducks in the wild are known as 野鸭 yě-yā (colloquially 野鸭子 yě yāzi or 野鸭儿 yě-yār), or 水鸭 shuǐ-yā 'water duck'. A more literary term is 凫 fú. These names are sometimes applied narrowly to the Mallard or 绿头鸭 lǜ-tóu yā 'green-headed duck', which was the wild ancestor of the domestic duck. Domestic ducks are known as 鸭子 yāzi 'duck' or 家鸭 jiā-yā 'domestic duck'. 骛 wù is a more formal or literary term for the domesticated duck. China also appears to raise a domesticated variety of Tadorna, 麻鸭 má-yā 'hemp duck'.

Geese in the wild are known as 雁 yàn 'wildgoose'. The Swan Goose has its own name, 鸿 hóng or 鸿雁 hóng-yàn, and is the ancestor of the domesticated goose in China (in the West it was the Greylag Goose). Domesticated geese are known by the totally separate name of 鹅 é or 家鹅 jiā-é 'domestic goose'.

The swans are known in Chinese as 天鹅 tiān-é, meaning 'sky goose' or 'heaven goose'. A more ancient name, now considered literary, is 鹄 hú.

The Mandarin duck Aix galericulata has long had a special place in Chinese culture as a conventional symbol of marital devotion, and is known as 鸳鸯 yuān-yang. This name, along with the conventional symbolism, has been borrowed into both Japanese and Vietnamese.

Ornithological usage:

Chinese has partially systematised the names of anatid genera, as follows:

Interestingly, the Mainland and Taiwanese names are at cross-purposes in assigning the names 鸭 yā and 凫 fú.

The name of the mergansers appears to be of Japanese origin. The Japanese name, 秋沙 aisa, is a mixture of kun and on readings, suggesting that it is a phonetic usage (ateji) -- characters chosen to represent the pronunciation of a native word. Tellingly, 秋 is read ai instead of the standard aki. Chinese has borrowed the written form, pronouncing it qiūshā.

Cultural:

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China, two members of the Anatidae were depicted in 'Mandarin Squares' (known as 补子 bǔzi) attached to official uniforms of high-ranking bureaucrats. They were:

The Wild Goose (雁 yàn or 云雁 yún-yàn), insignia of rank for Grade Four of civilian official.
The Mandarin Duck, insignia of rank for Grade Seven of civilian official. The bird referred to is the 鸂鶒 xīchì, said to be similar to the Mandarin duck but somewhat larger and with more purple in its plumage. This bird does not appear to have been identified by modern ornithologists.

In Chinese culture, as well as Oriental cultures influenced by it, the Mandarin duck Aix galericulata is a symbol of marital devotion due to its occurrence in mating pairs.

Chinese has the expression 癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 lài-háma xiǎng chī tiān'é-ròu 'A toad wants to eat swan meat', referring to a person lusting after something that he is not worthy of or is out of his class.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

DENDROCYGNINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Dendrocygna                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Dendrocygna javanica Lesser whistling duck Lesser whistling-duck Indian whistling duck Lesser treeduck Whistling teal 栗树鸭 (栗樹鴨) lì shù-yā 'chestnut tree-duck' (树鸭) 樹鴨 shù-yā 'tree-duck' 尼鸭 (尼鴨) ní yā 'nun duck' (Guangxi) (FS) 啸鸭 (嘯鴨) xiào yā 'whistling duck' (FS) リュウキュウガモ (琉球鴨) ryūkyū-gamo 'Ryukyu wildduck'   Le nâu 'brown smallduck' Модны анхир ᠮᠣᠳᠣᠨ ᠤ ᠠᠩᠬᠢᠷ modni aŋkhir 'tree ankhir'

ANSERINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Anser                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Anser cygnoides Swan goose Chinese goose 鸿雁 (鴻雁) hóng-yàn 'swangoose wildgoose' (鸿雁) 鴻雁 hóng-yàn 'swangoose wildgoose' 大雁 (大雁) dà-yàn 'large wildgoose' (also used for other types of goose) (FS) 原鹅 (原鵝) yuán é 'original goose' (dict) (FS) 洪雁 (洪雁) hóng-yàn 'flood wildgoose' (FS) 冠雁 (冠雁) guān-yàn 'crested wildgoose' (FS) 天鹅式大雁 (天鵝式大雁) tiān-é-shì dà-yàn 'sky-goose (=swan)-style wildgoose' (Gee) (FS) 随鹅 (隨鵝) suí é 'following goose' (Honghu, Hubei) (FS) 黑嘴鹅 (黑嘴鵝) hēi-zuǐ yàn 'black-billed wildgoose' (FS) 沙鹅 (沙鵝) shā yàn 'sand wildgoose' (FS) 草鹅 (草鵝) cǎo yàn 'grass wildgoose' (FS) 奇鹅 (奇鵝) qí-é 'strange goose' (L. Dongting, Hubei/Hunan) (FS) サカツラガン (酒面雁) saka-tsura gan 'wine-faced wildgoose' (refers to reddish-coloured face) 개리 gaeri 'gaeri'   Хошуу галуу ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠣ ᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭᠣ khoshuu galuu 'snouted goose' Anser fabalis Bean goose Eastern bean goose 豆雁 (豆雁) dòu-yàn 'bean wildgoose' (豆雁) 豆雁 dòu-yàn 'bean wildgoose' 大雁 (大雁) dà yàn 'large wildgoose' (general name, also used for other types of goose) (FS) 普通大雁 (普通大雁) pǔtōng dà yàn 'common large wildgoose' (FS) 东方豆雁 (東方豆雁) dōngfāng dòu-yàn 'Eastern bean wildgoose' (FS) 鸿 (鴻) hóng 'swangoose' (dict) (FS) 麦鹅 (麥鵝) mài é 'grain goose' (Xi'an) (FS) 西伯利亚豆雁 (西伯利亞豆雁) xībólìyà dòu-yàn 'Siberian bean wildgoose' (Gee) (FS) ヒシクイ (菱喰) hishi-kui 'water-caltrop eater' 큰기러기 keun-gireogi 'large goose'   Буурал галуу ᠪᠣᠭᠣᠷᠣᠯ ᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭᠣ buural galuu 'greyish goose' Anser anser Greylag goose 灰雁 (灰雁) huī yàn 'grey wildgoose' (灰雁) 灰雁 huī yàn 'grey wildgoose' 红嘴雁 (鴻嘴雁) hóng-zuǐ yàn 'red-billed wildgoose' (FS) 灰腰雁 (灰腰雁) huī-yāo yàn 'grey-rumped wildgoose' (FS) 大雁 (大雁) dà yàn 'large wildgoose' (northern general name, also used for other types of goose) (FS) 黄嘴灰鹅 (灰嘴灰鵝) huáng-zuǐ huī é 'yellow-billed grey goose' (Fujian) (FS) 沙鹅 (沙鵝) shā-é 'sand goose' (Inner Mongolia) (FS) 沙雁 (沙雁) shā-yàn 'sand wildgoose' (Honghu, Hubei) (FS) ハイイロガン (灰色雁) hai-iro gan 'grey-coloured wildgoose' 회색기러기 hoe-saek-gireogi 'grey-coloured goose' Ngỗng trời 'sky goose' = 'wild goose' Бор галуу ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭᠣ bor galuu 'dun goose' Anser albifrons Greater white-fronted goose White-fronted goose 白额雁 (白額雁) bái-é yàn 'white-foreheaded wildgoose' (白额雁) 白額雁 bái-é yàn 'white-foreheaded wildgoose' 白额鹅 (白額鵝) bái-é é 'white-foreheaded goose' 草鹅 (草鵝) cǎo-é 'grass goose' 大雁 (大雁) dà-yàn 'large wildgoose' (general name, also used for other types of goose) (FS) 花斑 (花斑) huā-bān 'flowery-stripe' (FS) 明斑 (明斑) míng-bān 'bright-stripe' (Honghu, Hubei) (FS) マガン (真雁) ma-gan 'true wildgoose' 쇠기러기 soe-gireogi 'small goose'   Манхин галуу ᠮᠠᠩᠬᠢᠨ ᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭᠣ maŋkhiŋ galuu 'mankhin goose' Anser erythropus Lesser white-fronted goose 小白额雁 (小白額雁) xiǎo bái-é yàn 'small white-foreheaded wildgoose' (小白额雁) 小白額雁 xiǎo bái-é yàn 'small white-foreheaded wildgoose'   カリガネ (雁, 雁金, 雁が音) kari-gane 'wildgoose cry' (written 'goose', 'goose metal', or 'goose sound') 흰이마기러기 huin-ima-gireogi 'white-foreheaded goose'   Одой галуу ᠣᠳᠥᠢ ᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭᠣ odoi galuu 'dwarf goose' Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Anser indicus Bar-headed goose 斑头雁 (斑頭雁) bān-tóu yàn 'stripe-headed wildgoose'   白头雁 (白頭雁) bái-tóu yàn 'white-headed wildgoose' (FS) 黑纹头雁 (黑紋頭雁) hēi-wén-tóu yàn 'black-finepattern-headed wildgoose' (FS) インドガン (インド雁) indo gan 'Indian wildgoose' 줄기러기 jul-gireogi 'lined goose' Ngỗng Ấn Độ 'Indian goose' Хээрийн галуу kheeriŋ galuu ᠬᠡᠬᠡᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭᠣ 'steppe goose' Anser caerulescens Snow goose 雪雁 (雪雁) xuě-yàn 'snow wildgoose'   考雁 (考雁) kǎo yàn 'kao wildgoose' 白雁 (白雁) bái yàn 'white wildgoose' (Hebei) (FS) ハクガン (白雁) haku-gan 'white wildgoose' 흰기러기 huin-gireogi 'white goose'     Branta                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Branta canadensis Anser canadensis Canada goose 加拿大黑雁 (加拿大黑雁) jiānádà hēi-yàn 'Canada black wildgoose' (4) 黑额黑雁 (黑額黑雁) hēi-é hēi-yàn 'black-foreheaded black wildgoose' (5) (加拿大雁) 加拿大雁 jiānádà yàn 'Canada wildgoose'   カナダガン (カナダ雁) kanada gan 'Canada wildgoose' 캐나다기러기 kaenada-gireogi 'Canada goose' Taxonomy Ngỗng Canada 'Canada duck' (from Cites list on Internet)   Branta bernicla Brent goose or Brant 黑雁 (黑雁) hēi-yàn 'black wildgoose' (黑雁) 黑雁 hēi-yàn 'black wildgoose'   コクガン (黒雁) koku-gan 'black wildgoose' 흑기러기 heuk-gireogi 'black goose'     Branta ruficollis Red-breasted goose 红胸黑雁 (紅胸黑雁) hóng-xiōng hēi-yàn 'red-breasted black wildgoose'     アオガン (青雁) ao-gan 'blue/green wildgoose'       Cygnus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Cygnus olor Mute swan 疣鼻天鹅 (疣鼻天鵝) yóu-bí tiān-é 'mole-nosed sky-goose' (2, 3, 4, 5) 瘤鼻天鹅 (瘤鼻天鵝) liú-bí tiān-é 'lump-nosed sky-goose' (1) or 赤嘴天鹅 (赤嘴天鵝) chì-zuǐ tiān-é 'red-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1) (疣鼻天鹅) 疣鼻天鵝 yóu-bí tiān-é 'mole-nosed sky-goose' Taiwan former official: (瘤鹄) 瘤鵠 liú hú 'lump swan' 哑声天鹅 (啞聲天鵝) yǎ-shēng tiān-é 'mute-voiced sky-goose' (Alternative in 6) コブハクチョウ (瘤白鳥) kobu haku-chō 'lump white-bird' 혹고니 hok-goni 'lump swan'   Хуруут хун ᠬᠣᠷᠣᠭᠣᠲᠣ ᠬᠣᠨ khuruut khuŋ 'fingered ? swan' Cygnus colombianus Tundra swan Whistling swan Bewick's swan 小天鹅 (小天鵝) xiǎo tiān-é 'small sky-goose' (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) or 短嘴天鹅 (短嘴天鵝) duǎn-zuǐ tiān-é 'short-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1) Taxonomy (小天鹅) 小天鵝 xiǎo tiān-é 'small sky-goose' Taiwan former official: (鹄) 鵠 hú 'swan' 啸声天鹅 (嘯聲天鵝) xiào-shēng tiān-é 'whistle-voiced sky-goose' (Alternative in 6) 苔原天鹅 (苔原天鵝) táiyuán tiān-é 'tundra sky-goose' (7) 白鹅 (白鵝) bái-é 'white-goose' (FS) 食鹅 (食鵝) shí-é 'eating-goose' (southern, N. China plain) (FS) コハクチョウ (小白鳥) ko haku-chō 'small white-bird' 고니 goni 'swan'   Гунгар хун ᠭᠣᠨᠭᠠᠷ ᠬᠣᠨ guŋgar khuŋ 'gungar swan' Taxonomy Cygnus cygnus Whooper swan 大天鹅 (大天鵝) dà tiān-é 'large sky-goose' or 黄嘴天鹅 (黃嘴天鵝) huáng-zuǐ tiān-é 'yellow-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1) (黄嘴天鹅) 黄嘴天鵝 huáng-zuǐ tiān-é 'yellow-billed sky-goose' 咳声天鹅 (咳聲天鵝) ké-shēng tiān-é 'cough-voiced sky-goose' (FS) 鹄 (鵠) hú 'swan' (ancient general name) (FS) 白鹅 (白鵝) bái-é 'white goose' (Hebei, Inner Mongolia, general name in southwest) (FS) オオハクチョウ (大白鳥) ō haku-chō 'large white-bird' 큰고니 keun-goni 'large swan'   Гангар хун ᠭᠠᠨᠭᠠᠷ ᠬᠣᠨ gaŋgar khuŋ 'fine-porcelain swan'

TADORNINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Sarkidiornis                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Sarkidiornis melanotos Comb duck Nakta 瘤鸭 (瘤鴨) liú yā 'lump duck'     コブガモ (瘤鴨) kobu-gamo 'lump duck'   Vịt mồng 'rainbow duck'   Tadorna                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Tadorna tadorna Common shelduck Shelduck 翘鼻麻鸭 (翹鼻麻鴨) qiáo-bí má-yā 'warped nose hemp-duck' (花凫) 花鳧 huā fú 'flowery wildduck' 冠鸭 (冠鴨) guān yā 'crested duck' (FS) 潦鸭 (潦鴨) liáo yā ? 'slovenly duck' ? (FS) 掘穴鸭 (掘穴鴨) jué-xué yā 'dig-hole duck' (northern) (FS) 白鸭 (白鴨) bái yā 'white duck' (Dongbei, Fujian) (FS) ツクシガモ (筑紫鴨) tsukushi-gamo 'Kyushu duck' 혹부리오리 hok-buri-ori 'lump-billed duck' Vịt khoang 'spotted duck' Анхидал ангир ᠠᠩᠬᠢᠳᠠᠯ ᠠᠩᠬᠢᠷ aŋkh'dal aŋgir 'shelduck angir' Tadorna ferruginea Ruddy shelduck 赤麻鸭 (赤麻鴨) chì má-yā 'red hemp-duck' (渎凫) 瀆鳧 dú fú 'ditch wildduck' 黄鸭 (黃鴨) huáng yā 'yellow duck' (FS) 黄凫 (黃鳧) huáng fú 'yellow wildduck' (northern) (FS) 红鸭 (紅鴨) hóng yā 'red duck' 红雁 (紅雁) hóng yàn 'red wildgoose' (Inner Mongolia) (FS) アカツクシガモ (赤筑紫鴨) aka tsukushi-gamo 'red Kyushu duck' 황오리 hwang-ori 'yellow duck' Vịt vàng 'yellow duck' Хондон ангир ᠬᠣᠨᠳᠣᠨ ᠠᠩᠬᠢᠷ hondoŋ aŋgir 'reddish angir'

Floating Menu by Milonic

TOP

Tool tips by Walter Zorn

Anatidae 2