zhǔ
麈
ancient deer-like animal
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
a deer-like animal mentioned in ancient texts; tail used to make a whisk
archaicRefers specifically to an animal whose tail was historically used to make a whisk (拂尘) for scholars during the Wei and Jin dynasties. The term appears in classical Chinese texts and is largely obsolete in modern usage except in historical contexts or idioms.
Huī挥
zhǔ麈
ér而
tán谈
，
zhōng终
rì日
bù不
juàn倦
。
He waved the whisk and talked all day without tiring.
Zhǔ麈
wěi尾
shì是
gǔ古
rén人
qīng清
tán谈
shí时
de的
yǎ雅
qì器
。
The whisk was an elegant object used by ancient people during pure conversation.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
dòng动
wù物
zhǎng长
de得
xiàng像
lù鹿
，
gǔ古
rén人
chēng称
zhī之
wéi为
zhǔ麈
。
This animal looks like a deer; ancient people called it 'zhu'.