yuèzhuó
𬸚𬸦
mythical water bird; legendary phoenix
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
a mythical water bird mentioned in ancient Chinese texts; a purple phoenix-like legendary bird symbolizing auspiciousness
literaryA highly literary and archaic term found in classical texts such as the *Guoyu* and *Shanhaijing*. Refers to a specific type of phoenix (luanfeng) with distinct male (鸑) and female (鷟) forms. Rarely used in modern vernacular except in poetic or allusive contexts.
Guó国
yǔ语
yǒu有
yún云
：
'
Zhōu周
zhī之
xīng兴
yě也
，
yuè鸑
zhuó鷟
míng鸣
yú于
Qí岐
shān山
。
'
The *Guoyu* states: 'When the Zhou dynasty rose, the yuezhuo birds sang on Mount Qi.'
Yuè鸑
zhuó鷟
wèi为
fèng凤
huáng凰
zhī之
bié别
míng名
，
fēi非
wú梧
tóng桐
bù不
qī栖
，
fēi非
zhú竹
shí实
bù不
shí食
。
The yuezhuo is another name for the phoenix; it will not perch on anything but the paulownia tree, nor eat anything but bamboo seeds.
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Cǐ此
huà画
zhōng中
yuè鸑
zhuó鷟
zhǎn展
chì翅
yú于
yún云
jiān间
，
zī姿
tài态
gāo高
guì贵
diǎn典
yǎ雅
。
In this painting, the yuezhuo spreads its wings among the clouds with a noble and elegant posture.