燕雀

yànquè

noun #96,073

Meanings

1 swallows and sparrows
2 people of small ambition
3 brambling (a finch)

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

屋檐下住着几只燕雀。

Wūyán xià zhù zhe jǐ zhī yànquè.

A few swallows and sparrows live under the eaves.

HSK 7-9

他不甘心做燕雀，一心想干一番大事业。

Tā bù gānxīn zuò yànquè, yìxīn xiǎng gàn yì fān dà shìyè.

He was not content to be a sparrow; he was set on doing something great.

Tips

culture

From 陈胜's sigh in the 《史记》: 燕雀安知鸿鹄之志 'how could a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?' Small birds stand for small minds, the swan 鸿鹄 for a great one.

Stroke Order

燕 yàn

雀 què