鸟 (niǎo) - bird & a general term for avian creatures

鸟Tone 3

niǎo ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 鸟

念柠

鸟 · niǎo

bird;

a general term for avian creatures;

sometimes used metaphorically.

birda general term for avian creaturessometimes used metaphorically.

Usage highlights

birdbird cagebird nestbird songbird watchingbird flu

Synonyms

  • 禽— fowl, birds (general term, often for domesticated or specific types)

Antonyms

  • 兽— beast, land animal
  • 鱼— fish

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There is a bird on the tree (树上有只鸟).
  • I saw a beautiful bird this morning (我今天早上看到一只漂亮的鸟).
  • Birds can fly (鸟会飞).
  • He is a bird watcher (他是观鸟者).

Collocations

  • bird(鸟)
  • bird cage(鸟笼)
  • bird nest(鸟巢)
  • bird song(鸟鸣)
  • bird watching(观鸟)
  • bird flu(禽流感)

Idioms

  • A bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring(惊弓之鸟)
  • Like a bird in a cage(笼中之鸟)
  • Birds of a feather flock together(物以类聚，人以群分)
  • Kill two birds with one stone(一石二鸟)
  • The early bird catches the worm(早起的鸟儿有虫吃)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, birds often symbolize freedom, beauty, and the connection between heaven and earth.
  • Specific birds carry distinct symbolic meanings; for example, the magpie (喜鹊) represents joy and good fortune, while the crow (乌鸦) can be an omen of misfortune.
  • The character 鸟 itself is a pictograph, evolving from an ancient depiction of a bird.

FAQ