A domestic fowl raised near the home for eggs and meat. Chicken, hen, rooster, or poultry as food. A hand (又) next to a bird (鸟) — a fowl fed by hand.
For meat, Chinese prefers the compact form 鸡肉, not the possessive 鸡的肉.
鸟蛋 means a wild bird's egg, not a chicken egg. Use 鸡蛋 for eggs you eat.
鸡 means chicken, a specific domestic bird; 鸟 means bird in general.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | 鸡 = chicken; 鸟 = bird | Using 鸟 for chicken |
| Common phrase | 鸡蛋 (chicken egg) | 鸟蛋 for chicken egg |
| Context | Farm, food, cooking | Nature, wild birds |
Yes, 鸡 can stand alone, but in everyday food talk it often appears in compounds like 鸡蛋 and 鸡肉.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | 鸡 is a word | Thinking 鸡 must always be bound |
| Meat | 鸡肉 | 鸡的肉 |
| Egg | 鸡蛋 | 鸟蛋 |
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
面条里有一个 鸡蛋 。
今天，面条里有两个大 鸡蛋 。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
我买了 鸡蛋 、面包、牛奶，还有一些水果，这些都是你和我的吃的和喝的东西，还有给我们的小猫和小狗吃的东西。
Before you read, think about names: a train is called 'fire vehicle' in Chinese, but there's no fire! This simple rhyme will help you laugh while reviewing everyday words.
米饭不是米， 鸡蛋 不是蛋，牛奶不是奶。
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