1.
swallow (bird)
A small, agile bird with a forked tail, known for its swift flight and seasonal migration. Swallows are harbingers of spring in Japan.
燕 refers to swallows.
Alternative writing: ツバメ (katakana)
Common expressions
- 燕の巣 (swallow's nest - also a Chinese delicacy)
- 燕返し (a sword technique; also a quick reversal)
- 燕 (slang: a younger boyfriend of an older woman)
Counter: 羽
Cultural note
Swallows nesting under the eaves of a house are considered good luck in Japan. People protect swallow nests and watch the chicks grow. The proverb 「燕が低く飛ぶと雨が降る」 (when swallows fly low, rain will fall) is a traditional weather prediction.
The Tsubame Sanjo area of Niigata is famous for metalwork, and the Shinkansen "Tsubame" serves Kyushu.