嘤 (yīng) - Chirping & twittering

嘤Tone 1

yīng ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

嘹器

嘤 · yīng

Chirping;

twittering;

the sound of birds, especially small birds.

Chirpingtwitteringthe sound of birds, especially small birds.

Usage highlights

Chirping soundTwittering and chirpingChirp of a birdThe call of a friendSeeking friends through soundHarmonious chirping

Synonyms

  • 鸣— to chirp; to sing (of birds)
  • 啼— to crow; to cry (of birds)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The birds are chirping in the trees (鸟在树上嘤嘤鸣叫).
  • The sound of orioles singing (莺声嘤嘤).
  • I heard the faint chirping of fledglings (我听到雏鸟微弱的嘤鸣).

Collocations

  • Chirping sound(嘤声)
  • Twittering and chirping(嘤咛)
  • Chirp of a bird(鸟嘤)
  • The call of a friend(嘤鸣)
  • Seeking friends through sound(嘤求)
  • Harmonious chirping(嘤然)

Idioms

  • Birds chirp to seek friends(嘤其鸣矣，求其友声)
  • Calling out to companions(嘤鸣求友)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Derived from the sound of birds, particularly used in classical poetry to depict spring scenes or the calls of small birds.
  • In classical literature, the chirping of birds is often used metaphorically to express the desire for friendship or like-minded companionship.
  • The character appears in the ancient Chinese dictionary 'Shuowen Jiezi' as describing the sound of birds.

FAQ