雀

Today we move on to another Pictogram character 雀. 

At the first glance, its top part is an obvious Chinese character 少, which we have learnt at https://xiongzou.blogspot.com/2016/01/learn-one-chinese-character-day_22.html . 少 means less or small.

Bottom part of 雀 is unknown to us. We will need the help of its ancient scripts:

雀evolution history

 
Now we can clearly see that bottom part of its Oracle Scripts and is drawing of a bird (details can be found at https://xiongzou.blogspot.com/2017/12/learn-one-chinese-character-day_18.html). so and is to mean small bird, like sparrow. 

Its Bronze Script and Seal Script and Clerical Script were slowly simplified to our current writing form: 雀.

雀 means small bird. for example: 麻雀.

Now it is time to enjoy a Chinese calligraphy with 雀 inside:

鸣蝉移树流余响，斗雀追风坠细翎。

虎

 Chinese New Year 2022 is year of tiger. Today we divert our path to learn tiger in Chinese: 虎.

Modern character of 虎 does not give us much hint why it means tiger. As usual its ancient scripts will help here:

evolution history of 虎

As we can see from above table how 虎 evolved from its vivid drawing, , with the details of special characteristics of a tiger:

a. big mouth with sharp teeth;

b. stripes on its body;

c. powerful claws;

d. long tail;

to a more abstract  in Bronze script era, and further simplified in Seal script  and finally fixed in Clerical script: .

虎

so 虎 means tiger. For example: 老虎.

With extended meanings, 虎 can be used to describe as dangerous as close to a tiger: 虎口.

And 虎 can also be used to describe a person as mighty and brave as a tiger. For example: 虎将. 

That is all for 虎. I wish everybody a Prosperous Chinese New Year of Tiger | 虎年大吉:

福虎迎春