[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Natural-World \ #Animals # 隹 zhuī short-tailed bird ## Components [[隹 (zhūi)]] [[亻(rén)]] [[主 zhǔ]] ## Meaning "隹 (zhuī)" is a component of Chinese characters used as a radical. It represents a short-tailed bird, typically a sparrow or other small bird. In modern Chinese, it doesn't have a standalone meaning but is used as a component to indicate the presence of birds in characters such as "雀 (què - sparrow)" or "雞 (jī - chicken)." ## History In ancient times, the character "佳 (jiā)" resembled a bird with a short tail perched on a branch. It was used as a general term for birds with short tails. The character "佳" and the word for "bird" share the same origin and meaning, both representing the image of a bird. In Oracle Bone Script and Bronze Script, "佳" was also used as a particle indicating an affirmative tone, similar to "唯 (wéi)." Additionally, "佳" was used to refer to a type of fruit from certain plants, such as the fruit of the Chinese parasol tree being called "佳 (jiā)." The character "佳" is a pictographic character, resembling the shape of a bird in Oracle Bone Script. The Bronze Script form is more refined, depicting the bird more clearly. The Small Seal Script evolved from Bronze Script, and the Clerical Script evolved into the modern "佳." In the "Shuowen Jiezi," an ancient Chinese dictionary, it states: "佳, a general term for birds with short tails. Pictographic. All characters related to '佳' are derived from '佳.'" The original meaning of "佳" was a general term for birds with short tails. The character "鸟 (niǎo)" was initially used as a general term for birds with long tails. "佳" is a radical character, and most characters composed of "佳" are related to birds or fowl, such as "雕 (diāo)" and "雞 (jī)." ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[隹 zhuī- Oracular 1.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[隹 zhuī - Bronce 1.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[隹 zhuī - Sello 1.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[隹 zhuī - Clerical 1.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[隹 zhuī - Regular 1.svg]]