About
The character "栖", conveying the sense of perching or dwelling, derives from its traditional counterpart "棲", with both forms incorporating the tree radical "木" to link conceptually to wooden habitats. In the earlier construction "棲", the component "妻" served a dual role as a phonetic indicator and a semantic hint toward settling, while the variant "栖" replaced this with "西", primarily for its phonetic value. Initially denoting birds resting on branches, the term's application broadened over time to encompass any form of residence, whether temporary or settled, for animals and humans alike, reflecting a natural extension from avian behavior to general habitation. This semantic shift was paralleled by the structural adjustment where "西" supplanted "妻", simplifying the character without abandoning its foundational imagery of trees as shelters.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
鸟儿栖息在树枝上。
许多动物栖息在这片森林里。
他为一家公司提供栖身之所。
青蛙是典型的两栖动物。
战争迫使难民四处栖居。
这个山洞曾是古人的栖居地。
保护区是野生动物的重要栖息地。
他过着一种栖栖遑遑、居无定所的生活。