雀
Meanings
1
tree sparrow; sparrow
Refers especially to the tree sparrow, a small familiar bird often seen around houses, fields, and utility wires in Japan.
Two sparrows came to the garden.
Sparrows are lined up on the power line.
2
gossipy person; well-informed person; talkative insider
Only when written 雀
Figurative and uncommon as a free-standing modern noun; it is safer to understand it in established or compound-like expressions where 雀 suggests a chattering or well-informed person.
Gakuyasuzume refers to someone well informed about backstage matters.
Usage patterns
- 雀が鳴くfor sparrows to chirp
Sparrows are chirping in the garden.
- 雀が群れるfor sparrows to flock together
After the rice harvest, sparrows were flocking in the paddy field.
- 雀を追い払うto shoo sparrows away (e.g. from crops)
The farmer shooed the sparrows away from the field.
Expressions
- 雀の涙drop in the bucket; pittance; insignificant amount
- 竹に雀match made in heaven; perfect match; great coupling · family crest with bamboo and sparrow motif
- 着たきり雀owning nothing except the clothes on one's back
- 雀の千声鶴の一声the word of a wise man is worth the words of one thousand fools
- 雀百まで踊り忘れずwhat is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb