178) 隹

zhui

(short-tailed) bird

Signifies a small bird which looked at from its side. While “鸟[niǎo]” is used to and signify long-tailed and larger birds, this character is a general term to mean ‘short-tailed and smaller birds.’

178a) 集

ji

collect, gather

bird 隹 [zhuī] + tree 木²¹⁰[mù]

Symbolizes small birds (隹) gathered onto a branch of a tree (木) and chatting or chirping.

178y-31f*) 推

tui

push

hand 扌=手 [shǒu] + bird 隹¹⁷⁸[zhuī]

A mother bird lightly pushes her young (隹) one with a wing (扌) to see if it is ready to leave the nest.

178z) 艰

jian

difficult

hand/again 又 [yòu] + bird 隹¹⁷⁸[zhuī]

Even a small bird that can fly (隹) is begging with outstretched hands (又) because of the drought and the difficulties the famine caused.

178z) 谁

shei

who

word 讠=言²²[yán] + bird 隹 [zhuī]

It is hard to find who cried (讠) out when a group of small birds (隹) sit together.

178cx) 冫

bing

178c) 准

zhun

standard

ice 冫206[bīng] + bird 隹 [zhuī]

When temperatures fall below a standard temperature such as freezing (冫) point, migratory birds (隹) prepare to fly away to warmer territories