wild goose; letter (literary)
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
wild goose; migratory goose
literaryLiterary term for the wild goose, often used in poetic or classical contexts. The idiom 飞鸿踏雪 (flying goose treading on snow) metaphorically refers to traces left by past events.
Several wild geese flew across the sky.
Flying geese treading on snow mud serves as a metaphor for traces left by past events.
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The wild geese that leave in autumn and return in spring are migratory birds.
noun
letter; correspondence (literary metaphor)
literaryIn classical Chinese literature, wild geese were believed to carry letters (from the legend of Su Wu), so 飞鸿 became a poetic metaphor for mail or correspondence. Often used in phrases like 飞鸿传情 (conveying feelings through letters).
Having not received letters for a long time, I miss you very much.
A letter traveling thousands of miles conveys true feelings.
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Ancient people often used 'flying geese' as a metaphor for letters.