鷃 (yàn) - A small, quail-like bird & specifically refers to the buttonquail or similar small

鷃Tone 4

yàn ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

鷃 · yàn

A small, quail-like bird;

specifically refers to the buttonquail or similar small ground-dwelling birds.

A small, quail-like birdspecifically refers to the buttonquail or similar small

Usage highlights

buttonquailquail and buttonquail鷃雀鷃居鷃鹏之辨

Synonyms

  • 鹌— quail (similar small bird)
  • 鹑— quail (often paired with 鷃)

Antonyms

  • 鹏— roc (mythical giant bird representing grand ambition)
  • 凤— phoenix (noble mythical bird)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The buttonquail (鷃) is a small ground bird.
  • He observed the buttonquail (鷃鸟) in the field.
  • The quail and buttonquail (鹑鷃) are often mentioned together in classical texts.

Collocations

  • buttonquail(鷃鸟)
  • quail and buttonquail(鹑鷃)
  • buttonquail sparrow(鷃雀)
  • dwelling like a buttonquail - humble abode(鷃居)
  • distinction between quail and roc(鷃鹏之辨)

Idioms

  • The quail laughs at the roc(鷃笑鹏)
  • 鷃鹏 comparison(鷃鹏之喻)
  • 鷃's contentment(鷃居鷃食)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese literature, the 鷃 often appears as a contrast to the giant roc (鹏), representing the small and humble versus the grand and ambitious.
  • The 鷃 symbolizes contentment with a simple life in Daoist and Confucian texts.
  • It appears in Zhuangzi's philosophical works as an example of limited perspective contrasted with grand vision.

FAQ