Definition
杜鹃 refers to two entirely different things: a bird (the cuckoo) and a flower (the azalea). In both cases the Chinese word is the same, so context matters. The cuckoo is known for its distinctive call and association with spring; the azalea is a popular ornamental shrub with bright flowers. Be careful not to assume which meaning applies without context.
n.
cuckoo (bird, Cuculus)azalea (flower)
Examples
- ，杜鹃。Chūntiān de shíhou, wǒ tīngdào le dù juān de jiàoshēng.In spring, I heard the call of a cuckoo.
- 杜鹃。Gōngyuán li kāi mǎn le hóngsè de dù juān.The park is full of red azaleas in bloom.
- 杜鹃。Zhè zhǒng dù juān niǎo zài nánfāng hěn chángjiàn.This kind of cuckoo bird is very common in the south.
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