Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'young bird' depends on the species, age, and context. The most common general term is ひな (chick/nestling), but specific words exist for chicks, fledglings, and young of certain birds like chickens or ducks.
The speaker wants to refer to a young bird in general, especially one still in the nest or recently hatched.
General word for a chick or nestling. Often used for baby birds that are still dependent on parents. Can be written as 雛 in kanji, but hiragana is common.
There is a chick in the tree.
I fed the baby bird.
Literally 'chick bird'. Slightly more explicit than ひな alone. Can be written as 雛鳥.
The baby bird fell from the nest.
The speaker wants to refer to a young bird that has recently fledged and is learning to fly.
Specifically a fledgling, a young bird that has just left the nest. Combines 巣立ち (leaving the nest) and ひな (chick).
The fledgling is practicing flying.
A more formal or scientific term for a young bird that has left the nest but is not yet adult. Used in birdwatching or biology contexts.
The speaker specifically means a baby chicken.
The standard word for a chick (baby chicken). Often associated with cute, fluffy yellow chicks. Can be written as 雛, but ひよこ is more common.
The chicks are chirping.
The child says they want to keep a chick.
The speaker specifically means a young duck.
The speaker wants a more literary or poetic term for a young bird.
Literally 'young bird'. Used in literary contexts or to describe a bird that is not fully mature. Less common in everyday speech.
The young bird soared high into the sky.
ひな is the most general term for a baby bird, especially a nestling. ひよこ specifically means a chick (baby chicken). ひなどり is a slightly more explicit way to say 'baby bird' and can be used interchangeably with ひな in many cases, but ひな is more common.
The chick is waiting for its parents in the nest.
The chick hatched from the egg.
とり (鳥) just means 'bird' in general. To specify a young bird, you must use a word like ひな or ひなどり. Saying わかいとり (若い鳥) is possible but sounds like 'young bird' in a biological sense, not a baby bird.
この幼鳥はまだ自分でえさを取れません。
This young bird cannot yet feed itself.