Definitions

què (noun) sparrow; small bird
qiāo (noun) freckle; lentigo

Etymology

A small  bird 

About

The character "雀" is etymologically constructed from the component "小", meaning small, and "隹", denoting a short-tailed bird, forming a semantic compound that explicitly indicates a small bird such as a sparrow. Its structural integrity has been preserved across centuries, with the juxtaposition of these elements consistently conveying the notion of diminutive avian species. While the primary meaning has always focused on sparrows, the term has occasionally extended to reference other small birds or been employed in compound words to imply attributes like small size or specific patterns, yet its core definition remains anchored in this ornithological context without substantial alteration.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

树上有一只麻

Shù shàng yǒu yī zhī máquè.

There is a sparrow in the tree.

在吃虫子。

Máquè zài chī chóngzi.

The sparrow is eating insects.

那只鸟飞走了。

Nà zhī quèniǎo fēi zǒu le.

That small bird flew away.

公园里有很多麻

Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō máquè.

There are many sparrows in the park.

的羽毛很美丽。

Kǒngquè de yǔmáo hěn měilì.

The peacock's feathers are very beautiful.

虽然小,但很灵活。

Máquè suīrán xiǎo, dàn hěn línghuó.

Although sparrows are small, they are very agile.

清晨,鸟的叫声唤醒了我。

Qīngchén, quèniǎo de jiàoshēng huànxǐng le wǒ.

In the early morning, the birds' songs woke me up.

保护麻对生态平衡很重要。

Bǎohù máquè duì shēngtài pínghéng hěn zhòngyào.

Protecting sparrows is important for ecological balance.