Definition
黄雀 is a concrete noun referring to two types of small birds: the Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) and various tits (Paridae family). In Chinese culture, it appears in the idiom 螳螂捕蝉,黄雀在后 ('the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'), which warns against focusing on immediate gain while ignoring hidden danger. This idiom is the most common context for encountering the word beyond ornithology.
n.
siskin (a small songbird)titmouse (a small bird of the Paridae family)
Examples
- 黄雀。Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu yì zhī huáng qiāo zài shùzhī shàng chànggē.There is a siskin singing on a branch in the park.
- ,黄雀,。Tángláng bǔ chán, huáng qiāo zài hòu, zhège dàolǐ nǐ yào jìzhù.The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind — you must remember this principle.
- 黄雀。Zhè zhǒng huáng qiāo de yǔmáo yánsè fēicháng xiānyàn.This type of titmouse has very bright feather colors.
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