noun
longing for freedom when confined; caged bird yearning for the open sky
A yojijukugo (four-character idiom) expressing the deep desire for freedom felt by someone who is restrained or trapped. Literally, 'a caged bird longs for the clouds.' Used in literary or reflective contexts.
彼は会社という檻の中で、まさに籠鳥恋雲の思いだった。
Trapped in the cage of his company, he felt exactly like a caged bird longing for the open sky.
籠鳥恋雲ということわざを知っていますか。
Do you know the proverb 'a caged bird longs for the clouds'?
籠の鳥 (caged bird) is a common expression for someone without freedom, but 籠鳥恋雲 specifically emphasizes the longing for freedom, not just the state of being confined.
A yojijukugo of Chinese origin, composed of 籠 (cage), 鳥 (bird), 恋 (long for), and 雲 (clouds). The literal meaning is 'a caged bird longs for the clouds,' metaphorically expressing a desire for freedom.