雁 (yàn) - Wild goose — a migratory bird known for & symbolizes letters, messages, and seasonal changes in Chinese

雁Tone 4

yàn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

雁 · yàn

Wild goose — a migratory bird known for flying in V-shaped formations;

symbolizes letters, messages, and seasonal changes in Chinese culture.

Wild goose — a migratory bird known forsymbolizes letters, messages, and seasonal changes in Chinese

Usage highlights

Wild gooseGoose formationGoose letterLone gooseWild goose pagodaGoose foot

Synonyms

  • 鹅— goose (domestic)
  • 鸿— swan goose (larger species)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • A flock of wild geese flew overhead (雁群飞过).
  • He received a letter from afar (雁书).
  • The wild geese migrate south in autumn (秋雁南飞).
  • The formation of wild geese is impressive (雁阵).

Collocations

  • Wild goose(大雁)
  • Goose formation(雁阵)
  • Goose letter(雁书)
  • Lone goose(孤雁)
  • Wild goose pagoda(大雁塔)
  • Goose foot(雁足)

Idioms

  • Breaking off a wild goose's feather(断雁孤鸿)
  • A wild goose passes without leaving a trace(雁过留声)
  • Sending a letter via wild goose(雁足传书)
  • The wild goose in the fish's trap(鱼沉雁杳)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Wild geese symbolize letters and messages in Chinese culture, as they were believed to carry messages.
  • They represent seasonal changes and migration patterns, often associated with autumn.
  • In traditional poetry, wild geese convey themes of loneliness, separation, and longing.

FAQ