巢

cháo

巛 + 果

Definitions

cháo (noun) nest

Etymology

Pictograph of a nest (甾) in a tree (木).

About

巢 is a pictograph combining 木 (tree) with an upper element (originally 甾) that represents a nest woven from twigs, depicting a bird's dwelling perched among branches. Its primary meaning is a bird's nest or animal's lair. This sense broadened metaphorically to human habitations, often carrying a negative connotation for the hideouts or dens of criminals, bandits, or enemy forces. Anatomically, it also refers to biological cavities and reproductive organs, notably the ovaries.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

小鸟在树上筑巢。

Xiǎo niǎo zài shù shàng zhù cháo.

The little bird builds a nest in the tree.

树上的鸟巢非常隐蔽。

Shù shàng de niǎo cháo fēicháng yǐnbì.

The bird's nest in the tree is very well hidden.

这些蜜蜂的蜂巢结构很精巧。

Zhèxiē mìfēng de fēngcháo jiégòu hěn jīngqiǎo.

The structure of these bees' honeycomb is very intricate.

探险队发现了野兽的巢穴。

Tànxiǎn duì fāxiànle yěshòu de cháoxué.

The exploration team discovered the lair of a wild beast.

警方一举捣毁了犯罪分子的巢穴。

Jǐngfāng yījǔ dǎohuǐle fànzuì fènzǐ de cháoxué.

The police raided and destroyed the criminals' den in one fell swoop.

这个区域被认为是叛军的老巢。

Zhège qūyù bèi rènwéi shì pànjūn de lǎocháo.

This area is considered to be the stronghold of the rebel army.

城市东部的旧城区成了流浪者的聚居巢。

Chéngshì dōngbù de jiù chéngqū chéngle liúlàng zhě de jùjū cháo.

The old city district in the east of the city has become a gathering nest for homeless people.

这种巢状的组织结构有利于信息快速传递。

Zhè zhǒng cháo zhuàng de zǔzhī jiégòu yǒulì yú xìnxī kuàisù chuándì.

This nest-like organizational structure is conducive to the rapid transmission of information.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 巛

Component: 果

巢