飞禽走兽
飞禽走兽 (fēi qín zǒu shòu) literally means “flying birds walking beasts” and expresses “all varieties of wildlife in nature”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: fei qin zou shou, fei qin zou shou,飞禽走兽 meaning, 飞禽走兽 in english
All varieties of wildlife in nature
Pronunciation: fēi qín zǒu shòu Literal meaning: Flying birds walking beasts
Origin & Usage
The ancient 'Book of Rites' established this comprehensive classification of flying birds (飞禽) and walking beasts (走兽). Han Dynasty hunting regulations formalized its use in distinguishing between aerial and terrestrial prey. The elegant simplicity of categorizing animals by their primary mode of movement created a practical system that transcended mere appearance.
When to Use
Situation: The nature reserve protected various species of wildlife in their natural habitat
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 飞禽走兽 mean in English?
飞禽走兽 (fēi qín zǒu shòu) literally translates to “Flying birds walking beasts” and is used to express “All varieties of wildlife in nature”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 飞禽走兽 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving all varieties of wildlife in nature.
What is the pinyin for 飞禽走兽?
The pinyin pronunciation for 飞禽走兽 is “fēi qín zǒu shòu”.