鶏 (jī) - Chicken — a common domestic fowl & also used metaphorically for cowardice or trivial matters

鶏Tone 1

jī ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

鶏 · jī

Chicken — a common domestic fowl;

also used metaphorically for cowardice or trivial matters in some contexts.

Chicken — a common domestic fowlalso used metaphorically for cowardice or trivial matters

Usage highlights

ChickenRoosterHenChicken eggChicken meatChicken coop

Synonyms

  • 鸡— chicken (standard simplified form)

Antonyms

  • 鹰— eagle (predator of chickens, symbolizing courage vs. cowardice)
  • 凤— phoenix (mythical noble bird vs. common chicken)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We keep chickens in the yard (鸡).
  • He ordered chicken fried rice (鸡炒饭).
  • The rooster crows at dawn (公鸡).
  • She bought fresh eggs from the farm (鸡蛋).

Collocations

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

Idioms

  • Chicken feathers and garlic skins — trivial matters(鸡毛蒜皮)
  • Chicken flying, dog jumping — utter chaos(鸡飞狗跳)
  • Kill the chicken to scare the monkey — punish one to warn others(杀鸡儆猴)
  • A chicken's intestine — a narrow, winding path(鸡肠小径)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The chicken is one of the 12 zodiac animals in Chinese culture, representing punctuality and diligence.
  • In traditional symbolism, the rooster symbolizes honesty, fortitude, and the dispelling of evil.
  • Chickens are common in folk sayings and idioms, often representing mundane or chaotic situations.

FAQ