owl; bird considered unlucky
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
owl (bird of prey)
Refers specifically to the owl as a species. While ecologically beneficial, it has cultural associations with bad omens in some Chinese superstitions.
Yè夜
wǎn晚
，
māo猫
tóu头
yīng鹰
zài在
sēn森
lín林
lǐ里
bǔ捕
shí食
lǎo老
shǔ鼠
。
At night, owls hunt mice in the forest.
Māo猫
tóu头
yīng鹰
de的
shì视
lì力
zài在
yè夜
jiān间
fēi非
cháng常
hǎo好
。
Owls have excellent vision at night.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
māo猫
tóu头
yīng鹰
de的
jiào叫
shēng声
hěn很
dú独
tè特
。
This type of owl has a very distinctive call.
noun
unlucky bird; omen of misfortune
informalThis meaning is based on traditional superstition. The owl's nocturnal habits and eerie call led to its association with death, ghosts, or bad luck in some folk beliefs.
Lǎo老
rén人
men们
shuō说
，
tīng听
dào到
māo猫
tóu头
yīng鹰
jiào叫
shì是
bù不
jí吉
lì利
de的
。
Old folks say hearing an owl hoot is unlucky.
Zài在
yī一
xiē些
chuán传
shuō说
lǐ里
，
māo猫
tóu头
yīng鹰
shì是
sǐ死
shén神
de的
shǐ使
zhě者
。
In some legends, the owl is a messenger of the god of death.