swallow (bird); house martin
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
swallow (bird); generic term for birds of the family Hirundinidae, especially the barn swallow (家燕)
Often seen as a symbol of spring, home, and good fortune in Chinese culture. The term commonly refers to the small migratory bird with a forked tail.
Chūn春
tiān天
dào到
le了
，
yàn燕
zi子
cóng从
nán南
fāng方
fēi飞
huí回
lái来
le了
。
Spring is here, and the swallows have flown back from the south.
Wū屋
yán檐
xià下
yǒu有
yī一
gè个
yàn燕
zi子
wō窝
。
There is a swallow's nest under the eaves.
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Yàn燕
zi子
dī低
fēi飞
shì是
yào要
xià下
yǔ雨
de的
zhēng征
zhào兆
。
Swallows flying low is a sign that it's going to rain.
Zhè这
duì对
yàn燕
zi子
měi每
nián年
dōu都
huí回
dào到
zhè这
ge个
yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
zhù筑
cháo巢
。
This pair of swallows returns to this courtyard every year to build their nest.
Zài在
chuán传
tǒng统
wén文
huà化
zhōng中
，
yàn燕
zi子
xiàng象
zhēng征
zhe着
jiā家
tíng庭
hé和
mù睦
。
In traditional culture, the swallow symbolizes family harmony.