凰 (huáng): (in 凤凰) female phoenix

Meanings

凤凰是中国传说中的瑞鸟。

Fènghuáng shì Zhōngguó chuánshuō zhōng de ruìniǎo.

The phoenix is an auspicious bird in Chinese legend.

裙子上的图案是凤凰展翅。

Qúnzi shàng de tú'àn shì fènghuáng zhǎnchì.

The pattern on the dress is a phoenix spreading its wings.

culture

凰 only appears in 凤凰 (phoenix). Traditionally 凤 is the male bird and 凰 the female; together they symbolize harmony and good fortune.

radical

几 jǐ

small table; how many

The outer 几 frames the top and right and is the indexing radical here; it acts as the enclosing shell rather than carrying meaning.

phonetic

皇 huáng

emperor; imperial

Inside sits 皇, supplying the sound exactly. Its "imperial" flavor also suits this regal mythical bird.

凰 huáng