tí
𫛸
cuckoo (in compound 鶗鴂)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
cuckoo; large hawk-cuckoo (used in the compound 鶗鴂)
archaicA classical Chinese term appearing almost exclusively in the compound 鶗鴂 (tí jué), referring to the large hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides) or generally to the cuckoo. It appears in ancient poetry to symbolize the coming of spring or the sadness of parting.
Tí鶗
jué鴂
míng鸣
xī兮
bǎi百
cǎo草
shuāi衰
。
The cuckoo cries, and the hundred grasses wither.
Kǒng恐
tí鶗
jué鴂
zhī之
xiān先
míng鸣
xī兮
，
shǐ使
fū夫
bǎi百
cǎo草
wéi为
zhī之
bù不
fāng芳
。
I fear the cuckoo will cry first, causing all the hundred grasses to lose their fragrance on its account.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tí鶗
jué鴂
jiù就
shì是
dù杜
juān鹃
niǎo鸟
de的
yī一
zhǒng种
，
yě也
jiào叫
zǐ子
guī规
。
The tí jué is a type of cuckoo, also called zǐ guī.