urgent message; feather dispatch
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
urgent dispatch; feathered letter
archaicA historical term from ancient and early modern China. A chicken feather was attached to a letter or document to signify its top priority and need for immediate delivery, often used in military contexts or for official communications.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
jī鸡
máo毛
xìn信
dài代
biǎo表
shí十
wàn万
huǒ火
jí急
de的
jūn军
qíng情
。
In ancient times, a 'feathered letter' represented urgent military intelligence.
Zhè这
wèi位
tōng通
xìn信
bīng兵
lián连
yè夜
sòng送
chū出
le了
zhè这
fēng封
jī鸡
máo毛
xìn信
。
The courier delivered this urgent dispatch overnight.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Chā插
shàng上
jī鸡
máo毛
de的
xìn信
jiàn件
，
rèn任
hé何
rén人
dōu都
bù不
dé得
yán延
wù误
。
No one was allowed to delay a letter with a feather attached.