Rallidae
秧雞科
yāng-jī kē

General names

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

The general name for the rails in Chinese is 秧雞 yāng-jī, literally 'seedling fowl' (秧 yāng means 'seedling'; 雞 jī means 'fowl/chicken' or 'fowl'). This term has a respectable history and is found in the Ming-era Compendium of Chinese Materia Medica.

The term 田雞 tián-jī 'paddy-fowl/chicken' is also used for a number of species. The two names are used fairly indiscriminately without regard for genus, although the Mainland has moved to systematise usage. For the average Chinese, however, the most familiar interpretation of 田雞 tián-jī is 'frog meat', which is what it means on Chinese menus. Other terms include:

董雞 dǒng-jī 'dong fowl/chicken', used for the Water Cock.

水雞 shuǐ-jī 'water-fowl/chicken' used for the Purple Swamp Hen and the Moorhen.

苦惡鸟 kǔ-è-niǎo, literally 'bitter evil bird', used for the Brown Crake (genus Amaurornis).

The Moorhen and the Coot are interesting for the variety of names used.

The Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is known as 紅冠水雞 hóng-guān shuǐ-jī 'red-crested water-fowl/chicken'. In the Mainland official names this species is known as 黑水雞 hēi shuǐ-jī 'black water-fowl/chicken' or 紅骨頂 hóng gǔ-dǐng 'red bone top'.

The Black Coot (Fulica atra) is known as the 白冠雞 bái-guān jī 'white-crested fowl' in Taiwan. It is officially known as 骨頂雞 gǔ dǐng jī 'bone top fowl' or 白骨頂 bái gǔ-dǐng 'white bone top' in Mainland China, the latter a North Chinese term.

Both the Moorhen and the Black Coot are also known as 鷭 fán, which appears to be a Japanese borrowing.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			JAPANESE		OTHER
Rallina
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Rallina fasciata	Red-legged crake Red-legged banded crake	紅腳秧雞 (红脚秧鸡) hóng-jiǎo yāng-jī 'red-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan former official: 紅腿秧雞 (红腿秧鸡) hóng-tuǐ yāng-jī 'red-legged seedling-fowl/chicken'	(紅腿斑秧雞) 红腿斑秧鸡 hóng-tuǐ bān yāng-jī 'red-legged striped seedling-fowl/chicken'		ナンヨウオオクイナ (南洋大秧鶏 ~ 南洋大水鶏) nan-yō ō kuina 'southern seas large rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)			Gà nước họng nâu 'brown-throated water-fowl/chicken'
Rallina eurizonoides	Slaty-legged crake Banded crake	灰腳秧雞 (灰脚秧鸡) huī-jiǎo yāng-jī 'grey-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan former official: 灰腿秧雞 (灰腿秧鸡) huī-tuǐ yāng-jī 'grey-legged seedling-fowl/chicken'	(白喉斑秧雞) 白喉斑秧鸡 bái-hóu bān yāng-jī 'white-throated striped seedling-fowl/chicken'		オオクイナ (大秧鶏 ~ 大水鶏) ō kuina 'large rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)			Gà nước họng trắng 'white-throated water-fowl/chicken'
Gallirallus
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Gallirallus striatus Rallus striatus	Slaty-breasted rail Blue-breasted banded rail Banded rail	灰胸秧雞 (灰胸秧鸡) huī-xiōng yāng-jī 'grey-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken'	(灰胸秧雞) 灰胸秧鸡 huī-xiōng yāng-jī 'grey-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' (2, 4) (藍胸秧雞) 蓝胸秧鸡 lán-xiōng yāng-jī 'blue-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' (1, 3, 5)		ミナミクイナ (南秧鶏 ~ 南水鶏) minami kuina 'southern rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)			Gà nước vằn 'striped water-fowl/chicken'
Rallus
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Rallus aquaticus Rallina aquatica	Water rail	秧雞 (秧鸡) yāng-jī 'seedling-fowl/chicken'	(普通秧雞) 普通秧鸡 pǔtōng yāng-jī 'common seedling-fowl/chicken'	秋雞 (秋鸡) qiū-jī 'autumn fowl/chicken' 水雞 (水鸡) shuǐ-jī 'water-fowl/chicken'	クイナ (秧鶏 ~ 水鶏) kuina 'rail' (written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)	フユクイナ (冬秧鶏 ~ 冬水鶏) fuyu kuina 'winter rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)	흰눈썹뜸부기 huin-nunsseop-tteumbugi 'white-eyebrowed rail'	Gà nước Ấn Độ 'Indian water-fowl/chicken' Gà nước 'water-fowl/chicken' (13)
Amaurornis
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Amaurornis akool	Brown crake Crimson-legged crake	紅腳苦惡鳥 (红脚苦恶鸟) hóng-jiǎo kǔ-è-niǎo 'red-legged kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-è is written 'bitter evil')	(紅腳苦惡鳥) 红脚苦恶鸟 hóng-jiǎo kǔ-è-niǎo 'red-legged kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-è is written 'bitter evil')		チャバネクイナ (茶羽秧鶏 ~ 茶羽水鶏) cha-bane kuina 'brown-winged rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)			Chim Cuốc chân đỏ 'red-legged crake (bird)' (onomat.)
Amaurornis phoenicurus	White-breasted waterhen White-breasted water hen	白腹秧雞 (白腹秧鸡) bái-fù yāng-jī 'white-bellied seedling-fowl/chicken'	(白胸苦惡鳥) 白胸苦恶鸟 bái-xiōng kǔ-è-niǎo 'white-breasted kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-è is written 'bitter evil')	白胸秧雞 (白胸秧鸡) bái-xiōng yāng-jī 'white-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' (7) 苦惡鳥 (苦恶鸟) kǔ-è-niǎo 'kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-è is written 'bitter evil') 白胸秧鳥 (白胸秧鸟) bái-xiōng yāng-niǎo 'white-breasted seedling-bird' 白臉秧雞 (白脸秧鸡) bái-liǎn yāng-jī 'white-faced seedling-fowl/chicken' 白面雞 (白面鸡) bái-miàn-jī 'white-faced fowl' 白胸黑水雞 (白胸黑水鸡) bái-xiōng hēi shuǐ-jī 'white-breasted black water-fowl/chicken' (='white-breasted moorhen') 姑惡雞 (姑恶鸡) gū-è-jī 'mother-in-law evil fowl' (gū-è onomat.)	シロハラクイナ (白腹秧鶏 ~ 白腹水鶏) shiro-hara kuina 'white-bellied rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)		흰배뜸부기 huin-bae-tteumbugi 'white-bellied rail'	Chim Cuốc ngực trắng 'white-bellied crake (bird)' (onomat.)
Porzana
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Porzana pusilla	Baillon's crake	小秧雞 (小秧鸡) xiǎo yāng-jī 'small seedling-fowl/chicken'	(小田雞) 小田鸡 xiǎo tián-jī 'small paddy-fowl/chicken'		ヒメクイナ (姫水鶏 ~ 姫秧鶏) hime kuina 'princess rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)		쇠뜸부기 soe-tteumbugi 'small rail'	Chim Cuốc lùn 'dwarf crake (bird)' (onomat.)
Porzana porzana	Spotted crake	斑胸田雞 (斑胸田鸡) bān-xiōng tián-jī 'stripe-breasted paddy-fowl/chicken'	(斑胸田雞) 斑胸田鸡 bān-xiōng tián-jī 'stripe-breasted paddy-fowl/chicken'		コモンクイナ (小紋水鶏 ~ 小紋秧鶏) komon kuina 'fine-patterned rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)
Porzana fusca	Ruddy-breasted crake Ruddy crake	緋秧雞 (绯秧鸡) fēi yāng-jī 'scarlet seedling-fowl/chicken'	(紅胸田雞) 红胸田鸡 hóng-xiōng tián-jī 'red-breasted paddy-fowl/chicken'		ヒクイナ (緋秧鶏 ~ 緋水鶏) hi-kuina 'scarlet rail'		쇠뜸부기사촌 soe-tteumbugi-sachon 'small rail cousin'	Chim Cuốc ngực nâu 'brown-bellied crake (bird)' (onomat.)
Porzana paykullii Rallina paykullii	Band-bellied crake Chestnut-breasted crake	斑脇田雞 (斑胁田鸡) bān-xié tián-jī 'stripe-flanked paddy-fowl/chicken'	(斑胁田雞) 斑胁田鸡 bān-xié tián-jī 'stripe-flanked paddy-fowl/chicken' (1, 2, 4, 5) (斑肋田雞) 斑肋田鸡 bān-lèi tián-jī 'stripe-ribbed paddy-fowl/chicken' (3)	班田雞 (斑田鸡) bān tián-jī 'striped paddy-fowl/chicken'	コウライヒクイナ (高麗緋秧鶏 ~ 高麗緋水鶏) kōrai hi-kuina 'Korean scarlet rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)		한국뜸부기 hanguk-tteumbugi 'Korean rail'	Chim Cuốc nâu 'brown crake (bird)' (onomat.)
Porzana cinerea	White-browed crake White-browed rail	白眉秧雞 (白眉秧鸡) bái-méi yāng-jī 'white-eyebrowed seedling-fowl/chicken'	(白眉田雞) 白眉田鸡 bái-méi tián-jī 'white-eyebrowed paddy-fowl/chicken' (2, 4) (白眉秧雞) 白眉秧鸡 bái-méi yāng-jī 'white-eyebrowed seedling-fowl/chicken' (3) (灰田雞) 灰田鸡 huī tián-jī 'grey paddy-fowl/chicken' (5)		マミジロクイナ (眉白秧鶏 ~ 眉白水鶏) mami-jiro-kuina 'white-eyebrowed rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)			Gà nước mày trắng 'white-eyebrowed water-fowl/chicken' (13)
Gallicrex
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Gallicrex cinerea	Watercock Water cock	董雞 (董鸡) dǒng-jī 'dong fowl/chicken'	(董雞) 董鸡 dǒng-jī 'dong fowl/chicken'		ツルクイナ (鶴秧鶏 ~ 鶴水鶏) tsuru-kuina 'crane rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese)		뜸부기 tteumbugi 'rail'	Gà đồng 'dong fowl/chicken'
Porphyrio
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Porphyrio porphyrio	Purple swamphen Purple swamp hen Purple moorhen Sultan hen Purple coot Blue coot Swamp hen Purple gallinule	紫水雞 (紫水鸡) zǐ shuǐ-jī 'purple water-fowl/chicken'	(紫水雞) 紫水鸡 zǐ shuǐ-jī 'purple water-fowl/chicken'		セイケイ (青鶏) seikei 'blue/green fowl'			Chim Xít 'xit bird' (onomat.)
Gallinula
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Gallinula chloropus	Common moorhen Moorhen Common gallinule	紅冠水雞 (红冠水鸡) hóng-guān shuǐ-jī 'red-crested water-fowl/chicken'	(黑水雞) 黑水鸡 hēi shuǐ-jī 'black water-fowl/chicken' or (紅骨頂) 红骨顶 hóng gǔ-dǐng 'red bone top' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5)	小鷭 (小鷭) xiǎo fán 'small fan'	バン (鷭) ban 'coot'		쇠물닭 soe-mul-dalg 'small water-fowl/chicken'	Chim Kịch 'kịch bird'
Fulica
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Fulica atra	Common coot or Eurasian coot Black coot Coot	白冠雞 (白冠鸡) bái-guān jī 'white-crested fowl'	(白骨頂) 白骨顶 bái gǔ-dǐng 'white bone top' or (骨頂雞) 骨顶鸡 gǔ-dǐng jī 'bone top fowl' (Alternative in 1, 3)	大鷭 (大鷭) dà fán 'large fan' 水姑頂 (水姑顶) shuǐ gū dǐng 'water mother-in-law top' (North) 水姑丁 (水姑丁) shuǐ gū dīng 'water mother-in-law ding' (North) 冬雞 (冬鸡) dōng jī 'winter fowl' (South)	オオバン (大鷭) ō ban 'large coot'		물닭 mul-dalg 'water-fowl/chicken'	Chim Sâm cầm 'sâm cầm bird' (cầm = 'bird')

Floating Menu by Milonic

TOP

Tool tips by Walter Zorn