羽翼 (yǔ yì) — wing (of a bird); (figurative) assistant, right… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary word for a bird's wing, also used figuratively for a trusted helper or supporter. Far more formal and written than plain 翅膀.

noun

wing (of a bird)(figurative) assistantright-hand person

Measure word · 对

Examples

羽翼。
Xiǎo niǎo yòng yǔ yì fēi dào shù shàng.
The little bird used its wings to fly onto the tree.
羽翼。
Tā shì wǒ zuì xìn rèn de yǔ yì.
He is my most trusted assistant.
羽翼。
Niǎo de yǔ yì zài fēi xíng zhōng hěn zhòng yào.
A bird's wings are very important during flight.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

羽yǔfeather

羽 and 翼 both refer to bird wings, so together they mean wings and figuratively support.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

羽 comes from a picture of wings or feathers.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

羽異翼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

異

異yì翼yì

Same sound today

翼 combines 羽 (feathers/wings) with 異, which supplies the sound.

Appears in

Birds Social Roles & Status

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