囀 (zhuàn) - To warble, chirp, or sing (of birds) & to twitter

囀Tone 4

zhuàn ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

志

囀 · zhuàn

To warble, chirp, or sing (of birds);

to twitter;

a melodious bird call.

To warble, chirp, or sing (of birds)to twittera melodious bird call.

Usage highlights

Bird warbleOriole's songClear warbleMelodious birdsongSpring birdsongSinging bird

Synonyms

  • 鸣— to chirp, sing (general term for animal calls)
  • 啼— to crow, cry (often for birds, sometimes melancholic)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The birds are warbling in the spring (春鸟啭).
  • She loves to listen to the oriole's song (莺啭).
  • The beautiful birdsong echoed in the valley (鸟声啭于山谷).

Collocations

  • Bird warble(鸟啭)
  • Oriole's song(莺啭)
  • Clear warble(清啭)
  • Melodious birdsong(妙啭)
  • Spring birdsong(春啭)
  • Singing bird(鸣啭)

Idioms

  • A hundred warbles, a thousand calls(百啭千声)
  • The oriole sings, the swallow dances(莺啭燕舞)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily a literary word used in classical poetry to describe beautiful, melodious birdsong.
  • Evokes imagery of spring, nature, and refined aesthetic appreciation.
  • Rare in modern spoken language but preserved in literary contexts and names.

FAQ