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Fringillidae
アトリ科
atori ka

燕雀科
yàn-què kē

雀科
què kē

되새과
doe-sae-gwa

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General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are only tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

Japanese is quite rich in distinctive names for the finches:

What is of particular interest is that, being much richer in finch names than Chinese, Japanese was forced to innovate in writing these names in Chinese characters:

Name English As written in Chinese characters
アトリ
atori
Brambling Written 花鶏 'flower fowl' or 猲子鳥 in Chinese characters.
  • 花鶏 is a Chinese name for the Brambling.
  • 猲子 appears to have been a short-snouted dog or animal for the ancient Chinese; 猲子鳥, with the character for 'bird' added, was thus possibly also a name for the Brambling.
ヒワ
hiwa
Siskins etc. Written in Chinese characters. originally referred to a large kind of fowl in Chinese but has been appropriated to write ヒワ in Japanese.
マシコ
mashiko
Rosefinches Written 猿子 'monkey' in Chinese characters. Mashiko is a old word meaning 'monkey', probably extended to the birds because of the monkey's red face.
ウソ
uso
Bullfinch Written , a character that in Chinese originally appears to have been used for a bird resembling the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata) or Dollarbird (Eurystomas orientalis).
シメ
shime
(or ヒメ hime)
Hawfinch Written or 蝋嘴 in Chinese characters. Sometimes also 'princess'.
  • appears to be a Japanese creation;
  • 蝋嘴 'wax bill' is the Chinese name of the bird. (The Chinese naming of Hawfinches and Grosbeaks is confused and this Japanese usage suggests that the problem goes back a long way).
  • hime 'princess' is based on the alternative pronunciation.
イカル
ikaru
Grosbeaks Written 桑鳲, , or 斑鳩 in Chinese characters.
  • 桑鳲 sāng-shī is possibly an old Chinese name ( sāng means 'mulberry', shī is a kind of cuckoo) but is not found in Chinese sources. The identification with the grosbeak is probably Japanese.
  • The character is a Japanese creation based on the bird's 'angular' or kaku-batta bill; the right part of the character, kaku, means 'angle'.
  • The reason for 斑鳩 meaning 'striped pigeon', i.e. Turtle Dove, is unclear.
イスカ
isuka
Crossbill Written 交喙 'crossed bill' in Chinese characters, from Chinese 交喙 jiāo-huì meaning 'crossbill'.

The expedients used to adapt Chinese characters to write Japanese words include:

Take over an entire Chinese name (two characters or more) and use it as a whole to represent the Japanese word (e.g. 桑鳲 for ikaru, 交喙 for isuka, 花鶏 for atori).

Take an existing Chinese character use it for a different bird (e.g. uso, hiwa).

Make up a new character (e.g. shime, hime, ikaru, isuka). However, although claimed to be new characters, some appear to have already existed in Chinese.

More information on the use of Chinese characters to write Japanese bird names can be found at Writing Japanese Bird Names in Kanji.

Species names

› ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see) ‹
FRINGILLINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
JAPANESE
CHINESE
KOREAN
Fringilla              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Fringilla montifringilla
link to photolink to photo
Brambling
Pinson du Nord
Bergfink
Вьюрок
アトリ
(花鶏 ~ 猲子鳥)
atori
'brambling' (characters: 1. 'flower fowl/chicken', from Chinese; 2. from Chinese, original unclear)
  燕雀
(燕雀)
yàn-què
'swallow-sparrow'
(花雀)
花雀
huā-què
'flowery sparrow'
花鸡
(花雞)
huā-jī
'flowery fowl/chicken'
燕雀儿
(燕雀兒)
yàn-qiǎor
'swallow-sparrow'
虎皮雀
(虎皮雀)
hǔ-pí què
'tiger-skin sparrow'
되새
doe-sae
'doe bird'
 
CARDUELINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
JAPANESE
CHINESE
KOREAN
Carduelis              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Carduelis sinica
Chloris sinica
link to photolink to photo
Oriental greenfinch
Grey-capped greenfinch
Greenfinch
Chinese greenfinch
Verdier de Chine
Chinesengrünling
Китайская зеленушка
カワラヒワ
(河原鶸)
kawara hiwa
'river-bed siskin'
  金翅雀
(金翅雀)
jīn-chì-què
'gold-wing sparrow' (1, 2, 3, 4)
or
金翅
(金翅)
jīn-chì
'gold-wing' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5)
›Taxonomy‹
东方金翅
(東方金翅)
dōngfāng jīn-chì
'eastern gold-wing' (5)
(金翅雀)
金翅雀
jīn-chì-què
'gold-wing sparrow'
金翅儿
(金翅兒)
jīn-chèr
'gold-wing'
东方金翅鸟
(東方金翅鳥)
dōng-fāng jīn-chì-niǎo
'oriental gold-wing bird'
绿雀
(綠雀)
lǜ què
'green sparrow'
芦花黄雀
(蘆花黃雀)
lú-huā huáng-què
'reed catkin yellow-sparrow' (also C. spinus below)
黄楠雀
(黄楠雀)
huáng nán què
'yellow nan [type of tree] sparrow'
黄翎子
(黄翎子)
huáng língzi
'yellow feather'
방울새
bangul-sae
'bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')
Carduelis spinus
Spinus spinus
link to photolink to photo
Eurasian siskin
Spruce siskin
Siskin
Tarin des aulnes
Erlenzeisig
Чиж
マヒワ
(真鶸)
ma-hiwa
'true siskin'
  黄雀
(黃雀)
huáng-què
'yellow-sparrow'
(黃雀)
黄雀
huáng-què
'yellow-sparrow'
黄鸟
(黃鳥)
huáng-niǎo
'yellow bird' (also used for Oriolus chinensis)
芦花黄雀
(蘆花黃雀)
lú-huā huáng-què
'reed catkin yellow-sparrow' (also C. sinica above)
검은머리방울새
geomeun-meori-bangul-sae
'black-headed bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')
Carduelis flammea
Acanthis flammea
link to photo
Common redpoll
Redpoll
Sizerin flammé
Birkenzeisig
Обыкновенная чечетка
ベニヒワ
(紅鶸)
beni hiwa
'crimson siskin'
  白腰朱顶雀
(白腰朱頂雀)
bái-yāo zhū-dǐng-què
'white-rumped vermilion-capped sparrow'
(普通朱顶雀)
普通朱頂雀
pǔtōng zhū-dǐng-què
'common vermilion-capped sparrow'
朱顶雀
(朱頂雀)
zhū-dǐng-què
'vermilion-capped sparrow'
贮点红
(貯點紅)
zhù diǎn hóng
'(literally) save-a-bit red'
홍방울새
hong-bangul-sae
'red bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')
Carduelis hornemanni
Acanthis hornemanni
link to photo
Hoary redpoll
Arctic redpoll
Sizerin blanchâtre
Polar-Birkenzeisig
Пепельная чечетка
コベニヒワ
(小紅鶸)
ko beni hiwa
'small crimson siskin'
  极北朱顶雀
(北極朱頂雀)
jí běi zhū-dǐng-què
'far north vermilion-capped sparrow'
    쇠홍방울새
soe-hong-bangul-sae
'small red bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')
Leucosticte              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Leucosticte arctoa
link to photolink to photo
Asian rosy finch
Rosy mountain finch
White-winged mountain finch
Roselin brun
Rosenbauch-Schneegimpel
Сибирский вьюрок
ハギマシコ
(萩猿子)
hagi mashiko
'bush-clover rosefinch'
  粉红腹岭雀
(粉紅腹嶺雀)
fěn-hóng-fù lǐng-què
'pink-bellied mountain-ridge sparrow'
  北岭雀
(北嶺雀)
běi lǐng-què
'northern mountain-ridge sparrow' (6)
白翅岭雀
(白翅嶺雀)
bái-chì lǐng-què
'white-winged mountain-ridge sparrow'
갈색양진이
gal-saeg-yangjini
'brown-coloured rosefinch'
Uragus              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Uragus sibiricus
link to photolink to photo
Long-tailed rosefinch
Roselin à longue queue
Meisengimpel
Длиннохвостая чечевица
ベニマシコ
(紅猿子)
beni mashiko
'crimson rosefinch'
  长尾雀
(長尾雀)
cháng-wěi què
'long-tailed sparrow'
    긴꼬리홍양진이
gin-kkori-hong-yangjini
'long-tailed red rosefinch'
Carpodacus              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Carpodacus erythrinus
link to photo
Common rosefinch
Roselin cramoisi
Karmingimpel
Обыкновенная чечевица
アカマシコ
(赤猿子)
aka mashiko
'red rosefinch'
  普通朱雀
(普通朱雀)
pǔtōng zhū-què
'common vermilion-sparrow'
(普通朱雀)
普通朱雀
pǔtōng zhū-què
'common vermilion-sparrow'
朱雀
(朱雀)
zhū-què
'vermilion-sparrow' (6, 7)
青麻料儿 / 青麻料
(青麻料兒 / 青麻料)
qīng má-liàor / qīng má-liào
'green/blue hemp material' (literal)
青雀
(青雀)
qīng-què
'green/blue sparrow'
红雀
(紅雀)
hóng-què
'red sparrow'
적원자
jeogwonja
'jeogwonja'
Carpodacus roseus
link to photolink to photo
Pallas's rosefinch
Siberian rosefinch
Roselin rose
Rosengimpel
Сибирская чечевица
オオマシコ
(大猿子)
ō mashiko
'large rosefinch'
  北朱雀
(北朱雀)
běi zhū-què
'northern vermilion-sparrow'
  靠山红
(靠山紅)
kào shān hóng
'near mountain red'
양진이
yangjini
'rosefinch'
Pinicola              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Pinicola enucleator
link to photo
Pine grosbeak
Pine rosefinch
Durbec des sapins
Hakengimpel
Щур
ギンザンマシコ
(銀山猿子)
gin-zan mashiko
'silver mountain rosefinch'
  松雀
(松雀)
sōng-què
'pine-sparrow'
    솔양진이
soll-yangjini
'pine rosefinch'
Loxia              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Loxia curvirostra
link to photo
Red crossbill
Crossbill
Bec-croisé des sapins
Fichtenkreuzschnabel
Обыкновенный клест
イスカ
(交喙 ~ )
isuka
'crossbill' (1. means 'crossed bill' in Chinese; 2. is a Japanese creation)
  红交嘴雀
(紅交嘴雀)
hóng jiāo-zuǐ-què
'red cross-billed sparrow'
  歪嘴雀
(歪嘴雀)
wāi-zuǐ què
'crooked billed sparrow'
交嘴
(交嘴)
jiāo-zuǐ
'cross-bill'
交嘴雀
(交嘴雀)
jiāo-zuǐ-què
'cross-billed sparrow'
交嘴鸟
(交嘴鳥)
jiāo-zuǐ-niǎo
'cross-billed bird'
交喙鸟
(交喙鳥)
jiāo-huì-niǎo
'cross-billed bird'
青交嘴
(青交嘴)
qīng jiāo-zuǐ
'green/blue cross-bill'
솔잣새
soljas-sae
'crossbill bird'
Loxia leucoptera
link to photo
White-winged crossbill
Bec-croisé bifascié
Bindenkreuzschnabel
Белокрылый клест
ナキイスカ
(鳴き交喙 ~ 鳴き鶍)
naki-isuka
'crying crossbill' (isuka written 1. 'crossed bill' in Chinese; 2. using a Japanese created character)
  白翅交嘴雀
(白翅交嘴雀)
bái-chì jiāo-zuǐ-què
'white-winged cross-billed sparrow'
  交嘴
(交嘴)
jiāo-zuǐ
'cross-bill'
交嘴鸟
(交嘴鳥)
jiāo-zuǐ-niǎo
'cross-billed bird'
交喙鸟
(交喙鳥)
jiāo-huì-niǎo
'cross-billed bird'
흰죽지솔잣새
huin-jukji-soljas-sae
'white-wingjointed crossbill bird
Pyrrhula              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
link to photolink to photo
Eurasian bullfinch
Northern bullfinch
Common bullfinch
Bullfinch
Cassin's bullfinch
Bouvreuil pivoine
Gimpel
Обыкновенный снегирь
ウソ
()
uso
'bullfinch'
ウソドリ
(鷽鳥)
uso-dori
'bullfinch bird'
ウソヒメ
(鷽姫)
uso-hime
'bullfinch princess' (possibly related to hime 'hawfinch')
红腹灰雀
(紅腹灰雀)
hóng-fù huī-què
'red-bellied grey-sparrow'
 
()
xué
'xue'
拙老婆
(拙老婆)
zhuō lǎopó
'stupid wife'
牛哞
(牛哞)
niú-mōu
'cow/bull moo'
멋쟁이
meot-jaengi
'mountain jaeng-i
Coccothraustes              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Coccothraustes coccothraustes
link to photolink to photo
Hawfinch
Gros-bec casse-noyaux
Kernbeisser
Обыкновенный дубонос
シメ
( ~ 蝋嘴)
shime
'hawfinch' (characters: 1. Japanese-made, 2. 'waxbill', Chinese name)
ヒメ
( ~ )
hime
'hime' (both are Japanese-made characters)
锡嘴雀
(錫嘴雀)
xī-zuǐ-què
'tin-billed sparrow'
(腊嘴雀)
臘嘴雀
là-zuǐ-què
'cured-meat-billed sparrow'
锡嘴
(錫嘴)
xī-zuǐ
'tin bill'
老锡儿
(老錫兒)
lǎo xīr
'old tin'
老西子
(老西子)
lǎo xīzi
'old west'
老醯儿
(老醯兒)
lǎo xīr
'old pickle-vinegar'
厚嘴鸟
(厚嘴鳥)
hòu-zuǐ niǎo
'thick-billed bird'
铁嘴蜡子
(鐵嘴蠟子)
tiě-zuǐ làzi
iron-billed wax'
콩새
kong-sae
'bean ? bird'
Eophona              
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Eophona migratoria
Coccothraustes migratorius
link to photolink to photo
Yellow-billed grosbeak
Black-tailed hawfinch
Chinese grosbeak
Gros-bec migrateur
Schwarzschwanz-Kernbeisser
Малый черноголовый дубонос
コイカル
(小桑鳲 ~ 小鵤 ~ 小斑鳩)
ko-ikaru
'small grosbeak' (characters for ikaru are 1. from the Chinese; 2. a Japanese-created character; 3. Chinese characters meaning 'pied pigeon')
  黑尾蜡嘴雀
(黑尾蠟嘴雀)
hēi-wěi là-zuǐ-què
'black-tailed wax-billed sparrow'
(小桑鸤)
小桑鳲
xiǎo sāng-shī
'small mulberry shi'
蜡嘴
(蠟嘴)
là-zuǐ
'wax bill'
皂儿
(皂兒)
zàor
'black'
少花子
(少花子)
shào huāzi
'young flower'
밀화부리
milhwa-buri
'milhwa bill'
Eophona personata
Coccothraustes personatus
link to photolink to photo
Japanese grosbeak
Masked hawfinch
Gros-bec masqué
Maskenkernbeisser
Большой черноголовый дубонос
イカル
(桑鳲 ~ ~ 斑鳩)
ikaru
'grosbeak' (characters are 1. from the Chinese; 2. a Japanese-created character; 3. Chinese characters meaning 'pied pigeon')
サンコウチョウ
(三光鳥)
sankōchō
'three light bird' (also name of Terpsiphone atrocaudata)
マメマワシ
(豆回し)
mame-mawashi
'bean turner' (from habit of turning beans in bill as it eats)
イカルガ
(斑鳩)
ikaruga
'ikaruga' (written 'pied pigeon')
黑头蜡嘴雀
(黑頭蠟嘴雀)
hēi-tóu là-zuǐ-què
'black-headed wax-billed sparrow'
(桑鸤)
桑鳲
sāng-shī
'mulberry shi'
蜡嘴
(蠟嘴)
là-zuǐ
'wax bill'
梧桐
(梧桐)
wú-tóng
'Chinese parasol tree'
큰부리밀화부리
keun-buri-milhwa-buri
large-billed milhwa bill'
(Site uses UK spelling, e.g., "grey-coloured")