yànháng

雁行

Word · Noun

geese in formation; brothers

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

the orderly V-shaped formation of flying wild geese

literary

Refers to the characteristic V-formation or line of wild geese in flight, often evoking images of autumn and migration.

Qiū秋
tiān天
dào到
le了
 ，
yàn雁
háng行
xiàng向
nán南
fēi飞
qù去
 。

Autumn has arrived, and the geese are flying south in formation.

Yàn雁
háng行
zài在
tiān天
kōng空
zhōng中
pái排
chéng成
 “
rén人
 ”
zì字
xíng形
 。

The geese form a V-shape in the sky.

2.

noun

brothers; brethren

literary

A literary metaphor comparing brothers to an orderly flight of geese, often emphasizing proper seniority or the bond between siblings. Classical phrases like "雁行折翼" (broken wing in the formation) euphemistically refer to the death of a brother.

Tā他
men们
xiōng兄
dì弟
yàn雁
háng行
yǒu有
xù序
 ，
hé和
mù睦
xiāng相
chǔ处
 。

The brothers maintain proper seniority like geese in formation and live together in harmony.

Yàn雁
háng行
zhé折
yì翼
 ，
lìng令
rén人
bēi悲
tòng痛
 。

The broken wing in the goose formation is grievous to behold.