About
The character 鹫 (traditional: 鷲) is a phono-semantic compound denoting a large bird of prey. Its semantic component is the bird radical 鸟 (traditional: 鳥), which classifies it within the avian category. The phonetic component is 就, providing the pronunciation "jiu". The character specifically refers to vultures, condors, or certain eagles. Due to this precise zoological meaning, its use is largely confined to ornithology or names of specific species, such as the cinereous vulture. It carries few abstract connotations, though it may appear in transliterated geographic names or Buddhist terms for peak shapes likened to the bird.
Etymology Hide
