白羽 (bái yǔ) — white feather; (literary) white plume

Definition

Literary term for a white feather, often used in poetry or historical writing to evoke purity, elegance, or martial imagery (e.g. a warrior's helmet plume). In everyday speech, use 羽毛 or 白色羽毛 instead.

adjective
white feather(literary) white plume

Examples

  • 白羽。
    Nà zhī gē zi diào le yí piàn bái yǔ zài dì shàng.
    That pigeon dropped a white feather on the ground.
  • 白羽。
    Gǔ dài wǔ shì cháng zài tóu kuī shàng chā yì gēn bái yǔ zuò wéi zhuāng shì.
    Ancient warriors often stuck a white plume on their helmets as decoration.
  • 白羽。
    Shī rén yòng bái yǔ xiàng zhēng chún jié yǔ zì yóu.
    Poets use the white feather to symbolize purity and freedom.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

白báiwhite
羽yǔfeather

白 gives the white color and 羽 means feather, together meaning white feather.

Characters in this word

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

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →

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.

Open 羽 →

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