鸮 (xiāo) - Owl — refers to various species of owls, & often associated with wisdom, mystery, or foreboding.

鸮Tone 1

xiāo ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

鸮 · xiāo

Owl — refers to various species of owls, particularly in classical Chinese texts;

often associated with wisdom, mystery, or foreboding.

Owl — refers to various species of owls,often associated with wisdom, mystery, or foreboding.

Usage highlights

OwlOwl callsOwl eyesOwl featherOwl totemResemble an owl

Synonyms

  • 猫头鹰— owl (common modern term)
  • 枭— owl (literary variant)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The owl is a nocturnal bird of prey (鸮 is a nocturnal bird).
  • Ancient artifacts sometimes feature owl motifs (古代器物上的鸮纹).
  • The call of an owl is considered eerie (鸮的叫声被认为不祥).
  • Some cultures view the owl as a symbol of wisdom (鸮作为智慧象征).

Collocations

  • Owl-shaped vessel(鸮尊)
  • Owl calls(鸮鸣)
  • Owl eyes(鸮目)
  • Owl feather(鸮羽)
  • Owl totem(鸮图腾)
  • Resemble an owl(似鸮)

Idioms

  • The owl eats its mother(鸮鸟生翼)
  • Owl's gaze frightens rodents(鸮视鼠骇)
  • Owl's call signals misfortune(鸮鸣兆凶)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, the owl was often seen as an ill omen, associated with death and misfortune.
  • The owl appears in Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze ritual vessels, such as the famous 'Owl Zun'.
  • In some regional folk beliefs, the owl is considered a protective spirit against evil.
  • The character combines 'bird' (鸟) with a component suggesting its distinctive head shape and call.

FAQ