羽翼 (yǔ yì) — wing (of a bird); (figurative) assistant, right-hand person

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
Easily confused

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liánhéSide by side

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

羽yǔfeather
翼yìwing

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.

Open 羽 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羽羽yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
異
異yì翼yì
Same sound today

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

Open 翼 →
Appears in
BirdsSocial Roles & Status

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