燕足系诗 — “To send a letter or poem via a swallow”
燕足系诗 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to send a letter or poem via a swallow”. Symbolizing communication and longing between separated loved ones, often implying a yearning for reunion. Literally, “Tie a poem to a swallow's foot”.
燕足系诗 Pronunciation and Pinyin
燕足系诗 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 燕足系诗
Origin and Story of 燕足系诗
During the Tang Dynasty, Ren Zong traveled to Xiangzhong for business and was away from home for a long time.
His wife, Guo Shaolan, saw a pair of swallows flying in front of their main hall and recited a poem: "You come from east of the sea, you must pass through Xiangzhong... I wish to entrust you with a letter, to deliver it to my husband." She then tied a poem to the swallow's leg.
The swallow flew to Ren Zong's residence in Jingzhou, and Ren Zong consequently received his wife's gift of poetry.
Idioms Related to 燕足系诗
More idioms starting with 燕
- yàn燕lǚ侣yīng莺chóu俦A pair of young lovers
- yàn燕chóu俦yīng莺lǚ侣young lovers or female companions
- yàn燕zhuó啄huáng皇sūn孙treacherous plot to harm royal heir
- yàn燕chǔ处wēi危cháo巢in an extremely perilous situation
- yàn燕chǔ处fén焚cháo巢in an extremely dangerous situation
- yàn燕dù妒yīng莺cán惭swallows envy, orioles feel ashamed
- yàn燕wǎn婉zhī之huān欢joyful, harmonious marital affection
- yàn燕zǐ子xián衔shí食parents' selfless toil raising children
- yàn燕ān安dān酖dú毒indulging in comfort is like drinking poison
- yàn燕ān安zhèn鸩dú毒indulging in comfort is like drinking poison
- yàn燕ěr尔xīn新hūn婚newlywed bliss
- yān燕dài岱zhī之shí石mediocre talent or low quality
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Open the tool →Questions about 燕足系诗
What does 燕足系诗 mean?
燕足系诗 (yàn zú xì shī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to send a letter or poem via a swallow”.
How do you pronounce 燕足系诗?
燕足系诗 is pronounced yàn zú xì shī in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 燕足系诗 literally mean?
Literally, 燕足系诗 means “Tie a poem to a swallow's foot”. It is used to mean “to send a letter or poem via a swallow”.
Where does 燕足系诗 come from?
燕足系诗 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 燕足系诗?
把诗系在燕子的腿上，让它传递给亲人