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飞禽走兽 (fēi qín zǒu shòu) — birds and animals (collectively); all kinds of wild creatures

Definition

A literary set phrase for 'birds and beasts' — all wild animals collectively, used mostly in writing about nature, hunting, or ancient/classical settings.

phrase
birds and animals (collectively)all kinds of wild creatures

Examples

  • 飞禽走兽。
    Zhè ge zì rán bǎo hù qū lǐ yǒu gè zhǒng fēi qín zǒu shòu.
    This nature reserve has all kinds of birds and animals.
  • 飞禽走兽。
    Gǔ dài huáng dì cháng qù shān lín zhōng shòu liè fēi qín zǒu shòu.
    Ancient emperors often went to the mountains to hunt wild birds and beasts.
  • 飞禽走兽。
    Zhè piàn shī dì shì xǔ duō fēi qín zǒu shòu de qī xī dì.
    This wetland is a habitat for many birds and animals.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

飞禽flying birds
飞fēifly禽qínbird
偏正Modifier + head
走兽running beasts
走zǒurun兽shòubeast
偏正Modifier + head

飞禽 and 走兽 name flying birds and running beasts, together all wild creatures.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 飛; 飞 is its simplified writing.

For 飞, the traditional form 飛 pictures a bird flying upwards.

Open 飞 →

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

The earliest 禽 drew a net. A sound part was later added, and the old net and sound shapes changed into today's 禽.

Open 禽 →

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

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獸; 兽 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 獸 combines 單 (hunting weapon) and 犬 (dog) to show hunting; the simplified 兽 is a shorthand.

Open 兽 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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