知更鸟
zhī gēng niǎo
The English word robin is translated into Chinese as 知更鸟 (zhī gēng niǎo).
知更鸟 is the term used to refer to any bird called a robin in English.
Meaning: any bird called robin in English (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use 知更鸟 (zhī gēng niǎo) when you are talking about the bird species. If you are referring to a person with the given name Robin, use the transliterated name 罗宾.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
zhī gēng niǎo
Did you know?
- The character 更 (gēng) in 知更鸟 refers to the ancient system of 'watches' or time-keeping intervals used in imperial China.
- The characters 知 and 更 in 知更鸟 literally mean 'to know' and 'to change' or 'to drum'. Together they imply a bird that 'knows' when the season is changing.
- The word 鸟 (niǎo) for 'bird' is a pictograph that originally looked like a bird with a crest and a long tail.
Examples in context
- 知更鸟正在找虫子。The robin is looking for worms.This sentence shows how to use 知更鸟 in a description of the bird's behavior.Tatoeba #8744820 by slo_oth, translation #8742999 by Solana
- 我昨天在公园看到一只红腹鸲。I saw a robin in the park yesterday.
- 那只知更鸟的颜色很漂亮。Nà zhī zhīgēngniǎo de yánsè hěn piàoliang.That robin's color is very beautiful.
- 我刚才看到了一只知更鸟。Wǒ gāngcái kàndào le yì zhī zhīgēngniǎo.I just saw a robin.
Example conversation
A couple is walking in a park.
- 志强 Zhiqiang佳怡，快看，那儿有一只知更鸟！Jiāyí, kuài kàn, nà'er yǒu yì zhī zhīgēngniǎo!Jiayi, look quickly, there is a robin over there!
- 佳怡 Jiayi真的，这只知更鸟真可爱。Zhēn de, zhè zhī zhīgēngniǎo zhēn kě'ài.Really, this robin is so cute.
- 志强 Zhiqiang它正在树枝上唱歌。Tā zhèngzài shùzhī shàng chànggē.It is singing on the branch.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，我们拍张照片吧。Zhìqiáng, wǒmen pāi zhāng zhàopiàn ba.Zhiqiang, let's take a photo.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
