About
The character "鸢", with its traditional form "鳶", represents the kite bird and is structured as a phono-semantic compound combining the phonetic component "弋" with the semantic component "鳥" meaning bird. This configuration indicates its etymological origin where one part suggested pronunciation and the other category. The character's graphical form has consistently featured these elements, and its meaning has specifically denoted the bird of prey from early classical texts to modern usage. Although the pronunciation associated with "弋" has diverged over time, the character's zoological reference has remained constant.
Etymology Hide
