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小鸟依人
小鸟依人
小鸟依人
小鸟依人
小鸟依人
小鸟依人
小鸟依人
小鸟依人

小鸟依人 — “Describes a girl or child who is delicate”

小鸟依人 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes a girl or child who is delicate”. Sweet, charming, and affectionately clings to others, often appearing gentle and somewhat dependent. Literally, “little bird clinging to a person”.

Frequency

小鸟依人 Pronunciation and Pinyin

小鸟依人 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
小
xiǎo3small, little, young, minor
鸟
niǎo5a bird
依
yī8rely on, according to
人
rén2human being, person

Example Sentence with 小鸟依人

她害羞地躲在妈妈身后,一副小鸟依人的样子。
She shyly hid behind her mother, appearing delicate and endearing like a little bird clinging to its parent.

Origin and Story of 小鸟依人

During the early Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong appointed Chu Suiliang as a remonstrance official, tasked with recording the emperor's words and actions.

Emperor Taizong once commented on his officials' traits. He noted that Changsun Wuji was quick-witted but lacked military leadership skills, and that Gao Shilian, though unwavering in crises, was hesitant to speak his mind frankly.

Regarding Chu Suiliang, Emperor Taizong praised his unwavering loyalty to the court and his upright character, but then added that Chu Suiliang had the demeanor of 'a little bird clinging to a person' (小鸟依人), implying a gentle and endearing quality despite his firmness.

Idioms Related to 小鸟依人

Synonyms of 小鸟依人

  • chǔ楚chǔ楚kě可lián怜delicate and charmingly vulnerable

Antonyms of 小鸟依人

  • shēn深wù恶tòng痛jué绝detest profoundly and abhor utterly
  • miàn面mù目kě可zēng憎repulsive countenance

More idioms starting with 小

  • xiǎo小bù不rěn忍zé则luàn乱dà大móu谋Impatience in small things spoils great plans
  • xiǎo小chǒu丑tiào跳liáng梁Insignificant villains stirring up mischief
  • xiǎo小zhōng中jiàn见dà大see the big in the small
  • xiǎo小rén人dé得zhì志petty person achieves success
  • xiǎo小xìn信wèi未fú孚Small trust not yet convinced
  • xiǎo小tōu偷xiǎo小mō摸to engage in petty theft
  • xiǎo小ér儿pò破zéi贼youngster achieves great accomplishments
  • xiǎo小guān冠zi子xià夏a person with poor eyesight
  • xiǎo小shòu受dà大zǒu走endure minor punishment, flee severe beating
  • xiǎo小qì器yì易yíng盈narrow-minded, easily conceited
  • xiǎo小guó国guǎ寡mín民small country with few people
  • xiǎo小dà大yóu由zhī之applicable to both large and small matters

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Questions about 小鸟依人

What does 小鸟依人 mean?

小鸟依人 (xiǎo niǎo yī rén) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes a girl or child who is delicate”.

How do you pronounce 小鸟依人?

小鸟依人 is pronounced xiǎo niǎo yī rén in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 小鸟依人 literally mean?

Literally, 小鸟依人 means “little bird clinging to a person”. It is used to mean “describes a girl or child who is delicate”.

Where does 小鸟依人 come from?

小鸟依人 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 小鸟依人?

依:依恋。象小鸟那样依傍着人。形容少女或小孩娇小可爱的样子。

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