phoenix; Chinese phoenix
Refers to the mythical firebird, especially the fenghuang (Chinese phoenix). Often appears in literature, anime, and folklore. Compare with 鳳凰 (ほうおう), which is the more formal term for the Chinese phoenix.
See also: 鳳凰
The firebird is a legendary immortal bird.
Osamu Tezuka's manga 'Phoenix' is a masterpiece.
Compound of 火 (hi, 'fire') + の (no, possessive particle) + 鳥 (tori, 'bird'). The reading ひのとり is a straightforward kun'yomi combination. The term is a native Japanese coinage for the mythical firebird, likely influenced by Chinese fenghuang legends.