hú

鸿鹄

Word · NounTraditional鵠

swan; metaphor for lofty ambition

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

noun

swan

literary

A literary term for 'swan' (often written as 鸿鹄 hóng hú). It flies high and is used metaphorically for people with grand aspirations.

Hóng鸿
hú鹄
gāo高
xiáng翔
 ，
zhì志
xiàng向
yuǎn远
dà大
 。

The swan soars high, symbolizing grand ambitions.

Yàn燕
què雀
ān安
zhī知
hóng鸿
hú鹄
zhī之
zhì志
 。

How could a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan?

Show 1 more example
Tā他
zì自
yòu幼
biàn便
yǒu有
hóng鸿
hú鹄
zhī之
zhì志
 。

He has had lofty ambitions since childhood.

2.

noun

person of lofty ambition; high flyer

literary

A metaphorical usage based on the swan's high flight. Often found in set phrases like 鸿鹄之志.

Zài在
zuò座
de的
zhū诸
wèi位
dōu都
shì是
hóng鸿
hú鹄
 ，
wèi未
lái来
bù不
kě可
xiàn限
liàng量
 。

Everyone present here is a person of great promise, with a boundless future.

Bù不
yào要
gān甘
dāng当
yàn燕
què雀
 ，
yào要
lì立
zhì志
zuò做
hóng鸿
hú鹄
 。

Don't be content to be a sparrow; aspire to be a swan (a high achiever).