Anatidae
雁鴨科
yàn-yā kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome.

These familiar birds are normally divided into ducks, geese, and swans.

The swans are known as 天鵝 tiān-é, meaning 'sky goose' or 'heaven goose'. They are called 鵠 hú in the written language, a word with an ancient lineage until recently still used in the scientific names in Taiwan.

Geese in the wild are known as 雁 yàn. The Swan goose, 鴻 hóng or 鴻雁 hóng-yàn, is the ancestor of the domesticated goose in China (in the West it was the Greylag goose). Domesticated geese are known as 鵝 é 'goose' or 家鵝 jiā-é 'domestic goose'.

Ducks in the wild are known as 野鴨 yě-yā (colloquially 野鴨子 yě yāzi) 'wild duck', or 水鴨 shuǐ-yā 'water duck'. These names are sometimes applied narrowly to the Mallard or 綠頭鴨 lǜ-tóu yā 'green-headed duck', which was the wild ancestor of the domestic duck. Wild ducks are known as 鳧 fú in written Chinese (applied to the Tadorninae in the Taiwanese names).

Domestic ducks (descended from the Mallard) are known as 鴨子 yāzi 'duck' or 家鴨 jiā-yā 'domestic duck'. 騖 wù is a more formal word for the domesticated duck.

The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is known as 鴛鴦 yuān-yang, a word that has been borrowed into Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. In Chinese culture, the Mandarin Duck is conventionally used as a symbol of marital devotion due to its occurrence in mating pairs.

Recent changes in the Taiwanese official names have brought the naming of the Aythya genus closer to the Mainland names (潛鴨 qián-yā meaning 'diving duck'). The names of the mergansers (秋沙 qiūshā, literally 'autumn-sand', a term which originally appears to have come from Japanese) have also been changed, but not necessarily in the direction of Mainland usage.

Chinese has the expression 癩蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉 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

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DENDROCYGNINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE OTHER Dendrocygna                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Dendrocygna javanica Lesser whistling duck Lesser whistling-duck Indian whistling duck Lesser treeduck Whistling teal 樹鴨 (树鸭) shù-yā 'tree-duck' (栗樹鴨) 栗树鸭 lì shù-yā 'chestnut tree-duck' 尼鴨 (尼鸭) ní yā 'nun duck' (Guangxi) (FS) 嘯鴨 (啸鸭) xiào yā 'whistling duck' (FS) リュウキュウガモ (琉球鴨) ryūkyū-gamo 'Ryukyu wildduck'     Le nâu 'brown teal/duck'

ANSERINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE OTHER Anser                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Anser cygnoides Swan goose Chinese goose 鴻雁 (鸿雁) hóng-yàn 'swangoose wildgoose' (鴻雁) 鸿雁 hóng-yàn 'swangoose wildgoose' 大雁 (大雁) dà-yàn 'large wildgoose' (also used for other types of goose) (FS) 原鵝 (原鹅) yuán é 'original goose' (dict) (FS) 洪雁 (洪雁) hóng-yàn 'flood wildgoose' (FS) 冠雁 (冠雁) guān-yàn 'crested wildgoose' (FS) 天鵝式大雁 (天鹅式大雁) tiān-é-shì dà-yàn 'sky-goose (=swan)-style wildgoose' (Gee) (FS) 隨鵝 (随鹅) suí é 'following goose' (Honghu, Hubei) (FS) 黑嘴鵝 (黑嘴鹅) hēi-zuǐ yàn 'black-billed wildgoose' (FS) 沙鵝 (沙鹅) shā yàn 'sand wildgoose' (FS) 草鵝 (草鹅) cǎo yàn 'grass wildgoose' (FS) 奇鵝 (奇鹅) 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'   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) 東方豆雁 (东方豆雁) dōngfāng dòu-yàn 'Eastern bean wildgoose' (FS) 鴻 (鸿) hóng 'swangoose' (dict) (FS) 麥鵝 (麦鹅) mài é 'grain goose' (Xi'an) (FS) 西伯利亞豆雁 (西伯利亚豆雁) xībólìyà dòu-yàn 'Siberian bean wildgoose' (Gee) (FS) ヒシクイ (菱喰) hishi-kui 'water-caltrop eater' ヌマタロウ (沼太郎) numa-tarō 'swamp fellow' (Taro is an archetypal boy's name) オオガリ (大雁) ō-gari 'large wildgoose' 큰기러기 keun-gireogi 'large goose'   Anser anser Greylag goose 灰雁 (灰雁) huī yàn 'grey wildgoose' (灰雁) 灰雁 huī yàn 'grey wildgoose' 鴻嘴雁 (红嘴雁) 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) 灰嘴灰鵝 (黄嘴灰鹅) huáng-zuǐ huī é 'yellow-billed grey goose' (Fujian) (FS) 沙鵝 (沙鹅) 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' Anser albifrons Greater white-fronted goose White-fronted goose 白額雁 (白额雁) bái-é yàn 'white-foreheaded wildgoose' (白額雁) 白额雁 bái-é yàn 'white-foreheaded wildgoose' 白額鵝 (白额鹅) bái-é é 'white-foreheaded goose' 草鵝 (草鹅) cǎo-é 'grass goose' 大雁 (大雁) dà-yàn 'large wildgoose' (also used for other types of goose) マガン (真雁) ma-gan 'true wildgoose' カリ (雁) kari 'wildgoose' 쇠기러기 soe-gireogi 'small goose'   Anser erythropus Lesser white-fronted goose 小白額雁 (小白额雁) xiǎo bái-é yàn 'small white-foreheaded wildgoose' (小白額雁) 小白额雁 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'   Branta                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Branta canadensis Anser canadensis Canada goose 加拿大雁 (加拿大雁) jiānádà yàn 'Canada wildgoose' (加拿大黑雁) 加拿大黑雁 jiānádà hēi-yàn 'Canada black wildgoose' (4) (黑額黑雁) 黑额黑雁 hēi-é hēi-yàn 'black-foreheaded black wildgoose' (5)   カナダガン (カナダ雁) kanada gan 'Canada wildgoose' Subspecies is: シジュウカラガン (四十雀雁) shijūkara gan 'great-tit wildgoose' Taxonomy ホオジロガン (頬白雁) hō-jiro gan 'white-cheeked wildgoose' カナダガモ (カナダ鴨) kanada gamo 'Canada duck' 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'   Cygnus                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Cygnus olor Mute swan 疣鼻天鵝 (疣鼻天鹅) yóu-bí tiān-é 'mole-nosed sky-goose' Taiwan former official: 瘤鵠 (瘤鹄) liú hú 'lump swan' (疣鼻天鵝) 疣鼻天鹅 yóu-bí tiān-é 'mole-nosed sky-goose' (2, 3, 4, 5) (瘤鼻天鵝) 瘤鼻天鹅 liú-bí tiān-é 'lump-nosed sky-goose' (1) or (赤嘴天鵝) 赤嘴天鹅 chì-zuǐ tiān-é 'red-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1) 啞聲天鵝 (哑声天鹅) 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'   Cygnus colombianus Tundra swan Whistling swan Bewick's swan 小天鵝 (小天鹅) xiǎo tiān-é 'small sky-goose' Taiwan former official: 鵠 (鹄) hú 'swan' (小天鵝) 小天鹅 xiǎo tiān-é 'small sky-goose' (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) or (短嘴天鵝) 短嘴天鹅 duǎn-zuǐ tiān-é 'short-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1) Taxonomy 嘯聲天鵝 (啸声天鹅) xiào-shēng tiān-é 'whistle-voiced sky-goose' (Alternative in 6) 苔原天鵝 (苔原天鹅) táiyuán tiān-é 'tundra sky-goose' (7) 白鵝 (白鹅) bái-é 'white-goose' (FS) 食鵝 (食鹅) shí-é 'eating-goose' (southern, N. China plain) (FS) コハクチョウ (小白鳥) ko haku-chō 'small white-bird' ハクチョウ (白鳥) haku-chō 'white-bird' (former official name) アメリカコハクチョウ (アメリカ小白鳥) amerika ko haku-chō 'American small white-bird' 고니 goni 'swan'   Cygnus cygnus Whooper swan 黃嘴天鵝 (黄嘴天鹅) huáng-zuǐ tiān-é 'yellow-billed sky-goose' (大天鵝) 大天鹅 dà tiān-é 'large sky-goose' or (黄嘴天鵝) 黄嘴天鹅 huáng-zuǐ tiān-é 'yellow-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1) 咳聲天鵝 (咳声天鹅) ké-shēng tiān-é 'cough-voiced sky-goose' (FS) 鵠 (鹄) hú 'swan' (ancient general name) (FS) 白鵝 (白鹅) 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'

TADORNINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE OTHER Tadorna                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Tadorna tadorna Common shelduck Shelduck 花鳧 (花凫) huā fú 'flowery wildduck' (翹鼻麻鴨) 翘鼻麻鸭 qiáo-bí má-yā 'warped nose hemp-duck' 冠鴨 (冠鸭) guān yā 'crested duck' (FS) 潦鴨 (潦鸭) liáo yā ? 'slovenly duck' ? (FS) 掘穴鴨 (掘穴鸭) jué-xué yā 'dig-hole duck' (northern) (FS) 白鴨 (白鸭) bái yā 'white duck' (Dongbei, Fujian) (FS) ツクシガモ (筑紫鴨) tsukushi-gamo 'Kyushu wildduck'   혹부리오리 hok-buri-ori 'lump-billed duck' Vịt khoang 'spotted duck' Tadorna ferruginea Ruddy shelduck 瀆鳧 (渎凫) dú fú 'ditch wildduck' (赤麻鴨) 赤麻鸭 chì má-yā 'red hemp-duck' 黃鴨 (黄鸭) huáng yā 'yellow duck' (FS) 黃鳧 (黄凫) huáng fú 'yellow wildduck' (northern) (FS) 紅鴨 (红鸭) hóng yā 'red duck' 紅雁 (红雁) hóng yàn 'red wildgoose' (Inner Mongolia) (FS) アカツクシガモ (赤筑紫鴨) aka tsukushi-gamo 'red Kyushu wildduck'   황오리 hwang-ori 'yellow duck' Vịt vàng 'yellow duck'

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Anatidae 2