觜 (zī) - Beak, bill, mouth of a bird & also refers to the beak-shaped constellation (one of

觜Tone 1

zī ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

志

觜 · zī

Beak, bill, mouth of a bird;

also refers to the beak-shaped constellation (one of the 28 lunar mansions).

Beak, bill, mouth of a birdalso refers to the beak-shaped constellation (one of

Usage highlights

Bird beakBeak constellationSharp beakBeak shapeBeak and clawsBeak and feathers

Synonyms

  • 喙— beak, snout
  • 嘴— mouth, beak (more common modern term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bird sharpens its beak (鸟在磨觜).
  • The eagle has a sharp beak (鹰有锋利的觜).
  • The beak is used for feeding (觜用于进食).
  • The beak constellation is in the sky (觜宿在天空中).

Collocations

  • Bird beak(鸟觜)
  • Beak constellation(觜宿)
  • Sharp beak(利觜)
  • Beak shape(觜形)
  • Beak and claws(觜爪)
  • Beak and feathers(觜羽)

Idioms

  • Sharp beak and tongue(利觜利舌)
  • Beak and claws(觜爪)
  • The beak constellation governs the west(觜宿主西)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese astronomy, 觜 is one of the 28 lunar mansions, representing the beak of the White Tiger.
  • The character originally depicted a bird's beak and was used in ancient texts to describe predatory birds.
  • In traditional Chinese animal symbolism, the beak represents feeding, attack, and survival tools.

FAQ