翎 (líng) - Feather & plume

翎Tone 2

líng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

林伦

翎 · líng

Feather;

plume;

especially referring to the long, ornamental feathers of birds, often used in headdresses or arrows in historical contexts.

Featherplumeespecially referring to the long, ornamental feathers of

Usage highlights

Peacock featherPheasant featherArrow fletchingCrane featherFeather fanFeather decoration

Synonyms

  • 羽— feather; plume (more general term)
  • 毛— fur; feather (broader term including hair)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The peacock has beautiful tail feathers (孔雀翎).
  • Traditional opera headdresses often use pheasant feathers (雉鸡翎).
  • Archers in ancient times used feather fletching on arrows (箭翎).
  • The crane's wing feathers are elegant (鹤翎).

Collocations

  • Peacock feather(孔雀翎)
  • Pheasant feather(雉翎)
  • Arrow fletching(箭翎)
  • Crane feather(鹤翎)
  • Feather fan(翎扇)
  • Feather decoration(翎饰)

Idioms

  • Cut the feathers and bury the arrows(折翎埋镞)
  • Feathers and fur(翎毛)
  • Pheasant tail and deer antlers(雉翎鹿角)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese opera, pheasant feathers (雉翎) worn on helmets symbolize martial prowess and heroic spirit.
  • Feathers were used as rank insignia in certain historical periods, particularly for military officials.
  • The character appears in classical poetry and literature to describe elegant bird plumage.

FAQ