雁

The wild goose is a major figure in classical Chinese poetry, symbolizing autumn melancholy, long journeys, and homesick travelers — because flocks fly long distances in V-formation across the seasons. Yields phrases like 雁阵 (yànzhèn — V-formation), 鸿雁 (hóngyàn — wild swan goose, also a poetic name for letters/messages).

The character 雁 contains 隹 (zhuī — a short-tailed bird) on the right and a roof-like shape on top, with 亻 (man) inside — picture geese in V-formation under a sheltering sky.