鴈 (yàn) - Wild goose & a large migratory waterfowl, often used interchangeably with

鴈Tone 4

yàn ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

鴈 · yàn

Wild goose;

a large migratory waterfowl, often used interchangeably with 雁 in classical texts.

Wild goosea large migratory waterfowl, often used interchangeably with

Usage highlights

Wild gooseGoose featherGoose formationMessenger gooseGoose crySolitary goose

Synonyms

  • 雁— wild goose (standard modern form)
  • 鸿— swan goose; large goose

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • A flock of wild geese flew south (鴈南飞).
  • The letter was delivered by a messenger (鱼鴈传书).
  • He saw the wild geese in formation (见鴈成行).

Collocations

  • Wild goose(鴈)
  • Goose feather(鴈毛)
  • Goose formation(鴈阵)
  • Messenger goose(信鴈)
  • Goose cry(鴈鸣)
  • Solitary goose(孤鴈)

Idioms

  • Fish and wild geese as messengers(鱼鴈传书)
  • Breaking off the wild goose(断鴈孤鸿)
  • The wild goose's letter(鴈书)
  • The wild goose passes without leaving a trace(鴈过不留痕)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, the wild goose symbolizes seasonal change, migration, and messages from afar.
  • Wild geese were historically used as metaphors for letters and communication in poetry.
  • The character 鴈 is an ancient variant form of 雁, often found in classical literature.

FAQ