莺

鶯/鸎

yīng

Rank #2901

Definitions

yīng oriole or various birds of the Sylvidae family including warblers

yīng variant of 鶯|莺[yīng]

Etymology

A bird 鸟 covered in 冖 green 艹 feathers

About

The character "莺", referring to a songbird such as an oriole, originates from the traditional form "鶯", a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic element "鳥" for bird with the phonetic component "熒". Its simplified structure replaces the complex top with the grass radical "艹", yielding "莺" where "鸟" continues to denote the avian category. While the graphical form has been adjusted, the character's essential meaning has remained constant, always designating small, melodious birds, and its literary use perpetuates associations with spring and auditory elegance.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

黄莺在唱歌。

Huáng yīng zài chànggē.

The oriole is singing.

树上有只小黄莺。

Shù shàng yǒu zhī xiǎo huáng yīng.

There is a little oriole in the tree.

清晨听到莺的叫声。

Qīngchén tīng dào yīng de jiàoshēng.

I heard the call of an oriole in the early morning.

莺的歌声非常悦耳。

Yīng de gēshēng fēicháng yuè'ěr.

The oriole's song is very pleasant to the ear.

春天是黄莺活跃的季节。

Chūntiān shì huáng yīng huóyuè de jìjié.

Spring is the season when orioles are active.

公园里莺飞草长，景色很美。

Gōngyuán lǐ yīng fēi cǎo zhǎng, jǐngsè hěn měi.

In the park, orioles fly and grass grows, the scenery is beautiful.

林中传来阵阵莺声燕语。

Lín zhōng chuán lái zhènzhèn yīng shēng yàn yǔ.

From the woods came bursts of orioles' and swallows' chirps.

这只羽毛鲜艳的莺正忙着哺育幼鸟。

Zhè zhī yǔmáo xiānyàn de yīng zhèng máng zhe bǔyù yòuniǎo.

This brightly feathered oriole is busy feeding its young.

Related Characters

Component: 鸟

Component: 𫇦

Components

鸟𫇦

莺