About
The character 嘤 (yīng), simplified from 嚶, is an onomatopoeia for gentle, rhythmic sounds, typically birdsong, but sometimes the soft cries of animals or infants. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left semantic radical 口 (kǒu, mouth) indicates vocal sound, while the right component 婴 (yīng), simplified from 嬰, provides the pronunciation. Its literary significance originates from the Classic of Poetry, in the phrase 嘤其鸣矣 (yīng qí míng yǐ), which depicts birds calling to one another. This usage led to its metaphorical association with seeking kindred spirits or intellectual companionship.
Etymology Hide
