玄げん鳥ちょう

noun

swallow (bird)

A literary or classical term for the swallow. In modern Japanese, 燕 (つばめ) is the standard word. 玄鳥 appears mainly in poetry, classical texts, or as a stylistic alternative.

See also: 燕

• 「玄げん鳥ちょう」は、漢かん詩しなどでツバメを指さす雅が語ごとして使つかわれる。

  玄鳥 is used as an elegant term for the swallow in Chinese-style poetry and similar contexts.