鸟枪

鳥槍

niǎoqiāng

noun #31,684

Measure Word

一支鸟枪 zhī

Meanings

1 fowling piece (shotgun)
2 flintlock musket (historical)
3 air gun

Characters

Examples

猎人扛着鸟枪上山打野鸡。

Lièrén kángzhe niǎoqiāng shàng shān dǎ yějī.

The hunter shouldered his shotgun and went up the mountain to hunt pheasants.

鸟枪换炮，他换了一辆新车。

Niǎoqiāng huàn pào, tā huànle yī liàng xīn chē.

Trading the bird-gun for a cannon — he upgraded to a new car.

Tips

memory

Two layers: literally 'bird-gun' = a small-bore gun for shooting birds; in late Qing texts 鸟枪 also refers to the matchlock/flintlock muskets adopted from European traders. The set phrase 鸟枪换炮 (niǎoqiāng huàn pào) 'swap the bird-gun for a cannon' = a major upgrade in equipment, status, or scale.

Stroke Order

鸟 niǎo

枪 qiāng