鷄 (jī) - Chicken — a domestic fowl & also used metaphorically for cowardice or prostitution.

鷄Tone 1

jī ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

鷄 · jī

Chicken — a domestic fowl;

also used metaphorically for cowardice or prostitution.

Chicken — a domestic fowlalso used metaphorically for cowardice or prostitution.

Usage highlights

ChickenRoosterHenChicken meatChicken coopChicken feather

Synonyms

  • 鸡— Chicken (simplified form)

Antonyms

  • 鹰— Eagle (symbol of courage vs. chicken's cowardice)
  • 凤— Phoenix (noble mythical bird vs. common chicken)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The rooster crows at dawn (公鸡打鸣).
  • We keep chickens in the yard (院子里养鸡).
  • She ordered chicken fried rice (鸡炒饭).
  • He was too chicken to try (他太胆小了不敢尝试).

Collocations

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

Idioms

  • Chicken feathers and garlic skins — trivial matters(鸡毛蒜皮)
  • Chicken flying, dog jumping — utter chaos(鸡飞狗跳)
  • A chicken's intestines and a duck's guts — narrow-minded(鸡肠鸭肚)
  • Kill the chicken to scare the monkey — punish one to warn others(杀鸡儆猴)
  • Like a chicken talking to a duck — talking past each other(鸡同鸭讲)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese zodiac, the Rooster is the tenth animal, representing punctuality, honesty, and flamboyance.
  • Chickens symbolize domesticity and prosperity, often featured in rural and family contexts.
  • Metaphorically, 'chicken' can imply cowardice (as in English) or refer to sex workers (e.g., 野鸡).

FAQ