禽 (qín) - Bird & fowl

禽Tone 2

qín ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

禽 · qín

Bird;

fowl;

feathered animals;

to capture;

to seize;

(archaic) general term for birds and beasts.

Birdfowlfeathered animals

Usage highlights

PoultryBirdsWild birdsBird fluBirdcageTo capture

Synonyms

  • 鸟— bird (more common modern term)
  • 羽— feather; winged creature

Antonyms

  • 兽— beast; land animal
  • 畜— domestic animal

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The zoo has many birds (禽类).
  • We bought poultry at the market (家禽).
  • Wild birds inhabit this forest (野禽).
  • The hunter captured the prey (禽获).

Collocations

  • Poultry(家禽)
  • Birds(禽类)
  • Wild birds(野禽)
  • Bird flu(禽流感)
  • Birdcage(禽笼)
  • To capture(禽获)

Idioms

  • Birds and beasts(禽兽)
  • Flying birds and running beasts(飞禽走兽)
  • To capture without effort(手到禽拿)
  • To behave like beasts(衣冠禽兽)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese classification, 禽 specifically referred to feathered animals (birds), while 兽 referred to hairy animals (beasts).
  • The term 禽兽 is used metaphorically to describe someone who behaves immorally or savagely.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, 禽 often refers to domesticated fowl used for food.

FAQ