翮 (hé) - Feather quill & the hollow shaft of a feather

翮Tone 2

hé ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

翮 · hé

Feather quill;

the hollow shaft of a feather;

by extension, wings or the ability to fly.

Feather quillthe hollow shaft of a featherby extension, wings or the ability to fly.

Usage highlights

Feather shaftStrong wingSpread wings and flyWing feathersBroken quillLight as a feather

Synonyms

  • 羽— feather; plumage
  • 翼— wing

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bird's wing was strong (强翮).
  • He wrote with a quill pen (羽翮笔).
  • The eagle spread its pinions (振翮高飞).

Collocations

  • Feather shaft(羽翮)
  • Strong wing(强翮)
  • Spread wings and fly(振翮)
  • Wing feathers(翅翮)
  • Broken quill(折翮)
  • Light as a feather(轻翮)

Idioms

  • Spread wings and soar(振翮高飞)
  • A broken wing, unable to fly(折翮难飞)
  • Wings of a great bird(鸿鹄之翮)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese, 翮 is a poetic term for wings or flight, often used to symbolize ambition, freedom, or literary talent (via the quill).
  • The character is composed of 羽 (feather) and 鬲 (a type of cauldron), with 鬲 likely serving as a phonetic component.
  • It appears in literary and historical names, reflecting an elegant, classical aesthetic.

FAQ