Definitions
Etymology
Pictograph of a swallow.
About
The character 燕 originated as a pictograph depicting a swallow in flight. Its structure breaks down into parts that mirror the bird's anatomy: the top represents the head and beak; the middle, with the component 口, forms the body; the strokes on either side suggest outstretched wings; and the four dots 灬 at the bottom stand for the forked tail feathers, not for fire as the radical typically implies. Originally meaning "swallow", the character was later borrowed as the name of an ancient state in the north during the Zhou dynasty, which led to its use as a proper noun and a modern surname.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
燕子飞回来了。
她喜欢吃燕窝。
早餐我吃了燕麦。
他穿着黑色的燕尾服。
燕京是北京的旧称。
燕山位于华北地区。
燕子们在屋檐下筑巢。
燕窝汤是一种珍贵的补品。
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