Definitions

yīng (noun) eagle; falcon; hawk

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic:

About

The character for eagle, "鹰", originated as a phono-semantic compound in its traditional form "鷹", where the semantic radical "鳥" indicates the category of bird and the component "䧹" provides phonetic guidance while contributing meaning through its constituents "广" and "隹". The inclusion of "隹", another bird radical, and "广", possibly implying a shelter or height, reflects characteristics associated with eagles. In the simplified version "鹰", the radical "鸟" substitutes "鳥" without altering the fundamental composition. The meaning of the character has always centered on birds of prey, specifically eagles, and it has not undergone significant semantic shifts over time.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

一只在空中飞。

Yī zhī yīng zài kōng zhōng fēi.

An eagle is flying in the sky.

那只老的翅膀真有力。

Nà zhī lǎoyīng de chìbǎng zhēn yǒulì.

That eagle's wings are really powerful.

是一种捕鱼能手。

Yúyīng shì yī zhǒng bǔ yú néngshǒu.

The osprey is a skilled fish hunter.

他敏锐的目光像一样。

Tā mǐnruì de mùguāng xiàng yīng yíyàng.

His keen gaze is like that of an eagle.

这只雕像做得栩栩如生。

Zhè zhī yīng diāoxiàng zuò dé xǔxǔrúshēng.

This eagle statue is made vividly lifelike.

在高空盘旋寻找猎物。

Tūyīng zài gāokōng pánxuán xúnzhǎo lièwù.

The vulture circles high in the sky looking for prey.

军方派出眼无人机侦察。

Jūnfāng pàichū yīngyǎn wúrénjī zhēnchá.

The military dispatched Eagle Eye drones for reconnaissance.

那位将军的派作风在军中广为人知。

Nà wèi jiāngjūn de yīngpài zuòfēng zài jūn zhōng guǎng wéi rén zhī.

That general's hawkish style is widely known in the army.