yàn

𮭨

Word · NounTraditional鷃

small bird; quail; person of limited ambition

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

small bird; quail

literary

Refers specifically to small wading birds or quail-like fowl. Often appears in classical texts describing small creatures contrasted with large birds.

Yàn鷃
què雀
fēi飞
bù不
guò过
shù数
rèn仞
zhī之
gāo高
 。

The small quail cannot fly higher than a few yards.

Cǐ此
niǎo鸟
míng名
wéi为
yàn鷃
 ，
cháng常
qī栖
yú于
cǎo草
cóng丛
zhī之
zhōng中
 。

This bird is called the quail and often dwells in thickets.

2.

noun

(figurative) person of limited ambition or narrow vision

literary

Derived from the classical metaphor comparing the small quail that cannot fly high with the great roc (鹏). Used in idioms to criticize small-mindedness.

Yàn鷃
què雀
ān安
zhī知
hóng鸿
hú鹄
zhī之
zhì志
zāi哉
 ？

How can a quail understand the ambitions of a swan?

Mò莫
zuò做
jǐng井
dǐ底
zhī之
wā蛙
 、
lí篱
biān边
zhī之
yàn鷃
 。

Do not be a frog at the bottom of a well or a quail by the fence.