雏

雛

chú

刍 + 隹

Definitions

chú (bound form) chick; young bird

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 刍 represents the sound. Simplified form of 雛.

Semantic: 隹 Phonetic: 刍

About

雏 (traditional form 雛) is a phono-semantic compound meaning a young bird or fledgling, and by extension any newborn or undeveloped creature. The right side 隹 (zhuī, short-tailed bird) provides the semantic category, while the left side was originally 芻 (chú, hay or cut grass), simplified to 刍 (chú), serving as the phonetic component. Over time, the meaning broadened to refer metaphorically to anything in its nascent stage.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只雏鸟很可爱。

Zhè zhī chúniǎo hěn kě'ài.

This baby bird is very cute.

鸟窝里有三只雏鸟。

Niǎo wō li yǒu sān zhī chúniǎo.

There are three chicks in the bird's nest.

他们精心照料刚孵出的雏鸡。

Tāmen jīngxīn zhàoliào gāng fūchū de chújī.

They carefully tend to the newly hatched chicks.

这个计划还只是一个雏形。

Zhège jìhuà hái zhǐshì yīgè chúxíng.

This plan is still just a prototype.

农场里有许多黄色的雏鸡。

Nóngchǎng li yǒu xǔduō huángsè de chújī.

There are many yellow chicks on the farm.

古人用“雏凤清声”比喻才华出众的子弟。

Gǔrén yòng "chú fèng qīng shēng" bǐyù cáihuá chūzhòng de zǐdì.

The ancients used "a young phoenix's clear voice" to metaphorically describe outstandingly talented young people.

这个新理论仍处于雏形阶段。

Zhège xīn lǐlùn réng chǔyú chúxíng jiēduàn.

This new theory is still in its embryonic stage.

雏鹰、雏虎和雏狮都是幼兽。

Chúyīng, chúhǔ hé chúshī dōu shì yòushòu.

Eaglets, tiger cubs, and lion cubs are all young animals.

Related Characters

Component: 刍

Component: 隹

雏