Columbidae

The pigeons and doves are most widely known through the domesticated pigeon, descended from Columba livia (Feral rock pigeon). Whether kept in captivity or roaming free in parks and streets, Columba livia is found throughout the region, even Japan, where it has never occurred in the wild. Apart from the domesticated pigeon, a variety of wild pigeons and doves are found in all three CJV countries.

Chinese: The common Chinese word for a 'pigeon' or 'dove', especially the domesticated variety, is 鸽子 gēzi, also known as the 鹁鸽 bógē. Less common names are 拙鸟 zhuō-niǎo ('clumsy bird') and 辘轳 lùlu.

Naturalists use the word 鸽 gē for members of the genus Columba. Pigeons and doves in the wild are called by a more traditional name, 鸠 jiū. The most familiar types of 鸠 jiū are Streptopelia orientalis (Eastern or Oriental turtle dove) and S. chinensis (Spotted necked dove or Spotted dove).

Japanese: Japanese has only one word for pigeon, ハト hato, written with the Chinese character 鳩. In combination with other words, ハト hato becomes バト -bato. The name of the domesticated pigeon, do-bato, can be written with the Chinese character 鴿.

Vietnamese: Vietnamese is rich in the names of pigeons.

The domesticated pigeon is Bồ câu or Chim câu.

The word Cu can be used for pigeons in general, but is particularly applied to wild pigeons belonging to Streptopelia and Treron. (In some Central dialects, this is reduplicated as Cu cu, although in standard usage this normally refers to types of cuckoo.)

The word Gầm ghì or Cu gầm ghì is used for cuckoo doves and imperial doves (also in the official name for Columba livia).

The word Chim chàng vịt is given in dictionaries for 'pigeon' or 'dove'.

Several members of Streptopelia have their own individual names:

Eastern turtle dove (S. orientalis)	Cu sen sen Cu đất ('ground pigeon')
Spotted necked dove (S. chinensis)	Cu gáy Chim gáy Cu gấm ( 'spotted pigeon') Cu cườm ('beaded pigeon')
Red collared dove (S. tranquebarica)	Cu ngói Chim ngói