雞 (jī) - Chicken — a domesticated fowl & also used metaphorically for cowardice or in various

雞Tone 1

jī ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

雞 · jī

Chicken — a domesticated fowl;

also used metaphorically for cowardice or in various idioms.

Chicken — a domesticated fowlalso used metaphorically for cowardice or in various

Usage highlights

Chicken meatRoosterHenChicken coopChicken featherChicken egg

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 鹰— eagle (symbolizing courage vs. chicken's cowardice)
  • 凤— phoenix (noble mythical bird vs. common chicken)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We keep chickens in the yard (鸡).
  • Chicken meat is popular (鸡肉).
  • The rooster crows at dawn (公鸡).
  • He is as timid as a chicken (胆小如鸡).

Collocations

  • Chicken meat(鸡肉)
  • Rooster(公鸡)
  • Hen(母鸡)
  • Chicken coop(鸡舍)
  • Chicken feather(鸡毛)
  • Chicken egg(鸡蛋)

Idioms

  • Chicken feathers and garlic skins(鸡毛蒜皮)
  • Chicken flying and dog jumping(鸡飞狗跳)
  • A chicken talks with a duck(鸡同鸭讲)
  • Kill the chicken to scare the monkey(杀鸡儆猴)
  • The chicken and the dog hear nothing(鸡犬不闻)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The chicken is one of the twelve zodiac animals in Chinese culture.
  • In traditional symbolism, the rooster represents punctuality and vigilance.
  • Chicken is a common sacrificial animal in traditional rituals.
  • In modern slang, 'chicken' can imply cowardice or timidity.

FAQ