羽

yǔ

Definitions

yǔ (noun) feather; wing

yǔ (noun) fifth note in Chinese pentatonic scale

Etymology

Pictograph of feathers.

About

Originally a pictograph of two bird feathers placed side by side, 羽 shows their central shafts and radiating barbs. It primarily means feather or wing of birds and insects. Because feathers characterize birds, the character is also used broadly to symbolize birds in general, flight, or lightness. In the traditional Chinese pentatonic scale, 羽 represents the fifth note, a usage unrelated to its avian meaning.

Etymology Hide

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 Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只小鸟羽毛很软。

Zhè zhǐ xiǎo niǎo yǔmáo hěn ruǎn.

This little bird's feathers are very soft.

我喜欢打羽毛球。

Wǒ xǐhuan dǎ yǔmáoqiú.

I like to play badminton.

张艺谋是著名导演。

Zhāng Yìmóu shì zhùmíng dǎoyǎn.

Zhang Yimou is a famous director.

天使的翅膀有白色羽毛。

Tiānshǐ de chìbǎng yǒu báisè yǔmáo.

An angel's wings have white feathers.

羽毛球是一种轻的球。

Yǔmáoqiú shì yī zhǒng qīng de qiú.

A shuttlecock is a kind of light ball.

这件羽绒服非常暖和。

Zhè jiàn yǔrónɡfú fēichāng nuǎnhuo.

This down jacket is very warm.

羽毛轻轻飘落在地上。

Yǔmáo qīngqīng piāoluò zài dìshàng.

The feather floated gently to the ground.

她的舞姿轻盈如羽毛。

Tā de wǔzī qīngyíng rú yǔmáo.

Her dancing posture is as light as a feather.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Example Words