知更鸟 (zhīgēngniǎo): robin

Measure Word

一只知更鸟 zhī

Meanings

1 robin
2 redbreast

Characters

Literally 'knows-the-watch bird' - robins were believed to sing at the change of the night watch, announcing the new time period.

Examples

窗外有一只知更鸟在唱歌。

Chuāngwài yǒu yī zhī zhīgēngniǎo zài chànggē.

There's a robin singing outside the window.

知更鸟的胸部是红色的。

Zhīgēngniǎo de xiōngbù shì hóngsè de.

The robin has a red breast.

In Pop Culture

杀死一只知更鸟 Shāsǐ yī zhī zhīgēngniǎo

To Kill a Mockingbird

Chinese title of Harper Lee's 1960 novel (note: the English 'mockingbird' is actually 反舌鸟, not 知更鸟).

Stroke Order

知 zhī

更 gèng

鸟 niǎo

Related Words

鸟鸣山更幽 niǎo míng shān gèng yōu

the bird's call makes the mountain yet more quiet / (fig.) a small sound amid great silence deepens the stillness — a paradox of contrast / (lit.) bird-cry, mountain more secluded

知识 zhīshi HSK 1 #3,655

knowledge

知名 zhīmíng HSK 6 #5,564

well-known; famous; renowned

知觉 zhījué HSK 7-9 #5,835

perception / consciousness / awareness

知 zhī #850

to know; to be aware of / knowledge; understanding

知道 zhīdào HSK 1 #23

to know / to be aware of

知情 zhīqíng #6,444

to be informed / to know the facts / to be in the know

知晓 zhīxiǎo #7,929

to know / to be aware of / to understand

告知 gàozhī HSK 7-9 #4,578

to inform / to notify / to advise

先知 xiānzhī #5,205

prophet; seer / person of foresight