HSK · Level 79
45 words
Chinese word
天鹅
Pronunciation
Pinyintiān é
Meaning
- nounswan
Example
湖里有一只天鹅。hú lǐ yǒu yì zhī tiān é
There is a swan in the lake.
More examples
每年秋天，成群的天鹅向南方迁徙。měi nián qiū tiān chéng qún de tiān é xiàng nán fāng qiān xǐ
Every autumn, flocks of swans migrate south.
Core concept
A large, graceful water bird with a long neck that glides across quiet lakes, often in pairs or groups.
Common phrases
一只天鹅yì zhī tiān é
a swan
一群天鹅yì qún tiān é
a flock of swans
湖里的天鹅hú lǐ de tiān é
the swan in the lake
Similar words
鹅é: A big water bird with a strong bill and feet that people often raise.
大雁dà yàn: A large wild goose that migrates in flocks over long distances, often in a V shape.
鸭子yā zi: A smaller round water bird that swims and often pecks at food.
Definition in Chinese
一种大型水鸟，颈部细长，羽毛多为白色，常在湖泊或静水处成对或成群活动，具有较高的观赏价值。yì zhǒng dà xíng shuí niǎo jǐng bù xì cháng yǔ máo duō wèi bái sè cháng zài hú pō huò jìng shuǐ chù chéng duì huò chéng qún huó dòng jù yǒu jiào gāo de guān shǎng jià zhí
Word origin
天鹅 (tiāné, "swan") combines 天 (tiān, "sky") with 鹅 (é, "goose"), using a lofty image to name a large goose-like water bird.
Usage tips
- Chinese counts this bird with 只 (zhī, "general animal classifier") for one, 对 (duì, "pair") for two as a pair, and 群 (qún, "group") for a flock.
Related words
- 天鹅绒tiān é róngvelvetnoun
- 天鹅湖tiān é húSwan Lakenoun