Swallow

燕

Swallow

Pronunciaion:
yan ( Putonghua, 4th tone )
yin ( Cantonese 3rd tone )

Meaning: swallow

燕 ( yan zi = swallow )
鶯歌燕舞 ( ying ge yan wu = orioles sing swallows dance ) describes birdsong and springtime or performance of singing and dancing girls.
燕好 ( yan hao = swallows copulate ) means couple having sex.

侯鳥 ( hou niao = season birds = migratory birds ).
燕歸來 ( yau gui lai = swallows return come ), sentimentalize passing of time.
勞燕分飛 ( lao yan fen fei = shrikes swallows separate fly ) means couple separated / divorced.

馬踏飛燕 ( ma ta fei yan = [ galloping] horse stepping on flying swallow ) is a marvelous bronze statue from ancient China.
燕窩 ( yan wo = swallow nest ) is swallows' coagulated saliva extracted from the birds' nests, cooked in soup.
燕尾服 ( yan wei fu = swallow tails coat / dress ) is western men's tailcoat.