báizhì

白雉

Word · Noun

silver pheasant; white pheasant; auspicious omen

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 3 examples
1.

noun

silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera)

literary

A bird species native to East Asia, known for its striking white and black plumage in males. Historically, the capture of a white pheasant was considered an auspicious sign.

Gǔ古
jí籍
zhōng中
jì记
zǎi载
 ，
bái白
zhì雉
de的
chū出
xiàn现
shì是
xiáng祥
ruì瑞
zhī之
zhào兆
 。

Ancient texts record that the appearance of a white pheasant was an auspicious omen.

Zhè这
zuò座
shān山
shì是
bái白
zhì雉
de的
zì自
rán然
qī栖
xī息
dì地
 。

This mountain is the natural habitat of the silver pheasant.

2.

noun

a white pheasant; symbol of good fortune

archaic

In traditional Chinese culture, a rare, naturally white pheasant (not just the silver pheasant species) was seen as a divine gift and a symbol of virtuous rule.

Jūn君
wáng王
dé德
zhèng政
 ，
zé则
yǒu有
bái白
zhì雉
lái来
xiàn献
 。

When a ruler governs virtuously, a white pheasant will be presented as tribute.