凤

鳳

fèng

几 + 又

Definitions

fèng (noun) phoenix

Etymology

Simplified form of 鳳. Phonosemantic compound. 鳥 represents the meaning and 凡 represents the sound. Originally a pictograph of a mythical Chinese bird, similar to a phoenix. Later the phonetic component 凡 was added.

Semantic: 又 Phonetic: 凡

About

凤 is the simplified form of 鳳, the male Chinese phoenix (fenghuang), which paired with the female huang symbolizes imperial power and marital harmony. 鳳 began as a pictograph of a mythical bird, then gained the phonetic component 凡 (meaning 'sail' or 'ordinary') to become a phono-semantic compound: 鳥 (bird) inside 凡. The modern simplified character 凤 keeps the outer frame of 凡 but replaces the inner bird component with a two-stroke element, reducing complexity.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢凤凰。

Wǒ xǐhuān fènghuáng.

I like phoenixes.

我喜欢吃凤梨。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī fènglí.

I like to eat pineapple.

凤凰的羽毛很漂亮。

Fènghuáng de yǔmáo hěn piàoliang.

The phoenix's feathers are very beautiful.

公园里有凤凰雕像。

Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu fènghuáng diāoxiàng.

There is a phoenix statue in the park.

她戴着美丽的凤冠。

Tā dàizhe měilì de fèngguān.

She is wearing a beautiful phoenix crown.

凤凰在传说中能重生。

Fènghuáng zài chuánshuō zhōng néng chóngshēng.

In legends, phoenixes can be reborn.

这幅画描绘了凤凰展翅。

Zhè fú huà miáohuì le fènghuáng zhǎn chì.

This painting depicts a phoenix spreading its wings.

在古代文化中，凤凰象征吉祥和幸福。

Zài gǔdài wénhuà zhōng, fènghuáng xiàngzhēng jíxiáng hé xìngfú.

In ancient culture, phoenixes symbolize auspiciousness and happiness.

Related Characters

Component: 几

Component: 又

Example Words