朱雀

Zhūquè

noun

Meanings

1 Vermilion Bird, guardian of the south among the Four Symbols, and the seven lunar mansions of the southern sky
2 rosefinch

Characters

small bird; sparrow

Examples

HSK 4

树林里有几只红色的朱雀。

Shùlín lǐ yǒu jǐ zhī hóngsè de zhūquè.

There are a few red rosefinches in the woods.

HSK 7-9

朱雀是传说中守护南方的神鸟。

Zhūquè shì chuánshuō zhōng shǒuhù nánfāng de shénniǎo.

The Vermilion Bird is the divine bird of legend that guards the south.

Tips

culture

The Vermilion Bird guards the south, the direction of summer, fire and the colour red, so south-facing gates and streets took its name: Tang 长安's great central avenue was 朱雀大街. 刘禹锡's poem on old Nanjing opens 朱雀桥边野草花, 'wild grasses flower by the Vermilion Bird Bridge'.

Stroke Order

朱 zhū

雀 què