cuckoo; bird of sorrow
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
cuckoo (Cuculus canorus); the common cuckoo bird
literaryIn classical Chinese literature, the cuckoo is associated with sorrow and the legend of the Shu king Du Yu (杜宇), who transformed into this bird. Its cry is said to sound like "不如归去" (better go home) or to weep blood (子规啼血), making it a symbol of homesickness and tragic beauty.
Yáng杨
huā花
luò落
jìn尽
zǐ子
guī规
tí啼
，
wén闻
dào道
lóng龙
biāo标
guò过
wǔ五
xī溪
。
Willow catkins fall as cuckoos cry; I hear you've passed the Five Streams to Longbiao.
Zǐ子
guī规
tí啼
xuè血
shì是
yī一
gè个
zhù著
míng名
de的
wén文
xué学
yì意
xiàng象
，
xiàng象
zhēng征
zhe着
wú无
jìn尽
de的
āi哀
shāng伤
。
The cuckoo weeping blood is a famous literary image symbolizing endless sorrow.
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Shān山
gǔ谷
zhōng中
chuán传
lái来
zǐ子
guī规
de的
tí啼
shēng声
，
lìng令
rén人
duàn断
cháng肠
。
The cuckoo's cry echoed through the valley, breaking one's heart.