雛

• Reading: ひな
• Romaji: hina
• Kanji breakdown: 雛 (hina) — chick, young bird, miniature
• Pronunciation: /hi.na/

Meaning

A young bird; chick; fledgling that has recently hatched.

A noun referring to a baby bird, especially one still in the nest or recently hatched. Also closely associated with ひな祭り (Hina Matsuri, the Doll Festival on 3 March), where 雛人形 (hina dolls) are displayed. In that context, 雛 refers to the ornamental dolls rather than birds. The bird meaning is common in nature writing and wildlife discussions.

Examples

1. 巣の中で雛が親鳥の帰りを待っている。 In the nest, the chicks are waiting for their parent bird to return.
2. 春になると雛が孵って巣が賑やかになる。 When spring comes, chicks hatch and the nest becomes lively.
3. 親鳥が雛に餌を運んでいる姿を見かけた。 I spotted a parent bird carrying food to its chicks.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, wildlife, seasonal events, literature

Tone: gentle

Origin & History

Native Japanese word of ancient origin. The kanji 雛 depicts a young bird (隹, bird radical) with the phonetic component 芻. Also used for miniature or small things, connecting to the ひな人形 (miniature dolls) of the Doll Festival.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal