1.
chick; baby bird; young bird
A newly hatched or very young bird. Used for birds in general, not just chickens.
2.
doll (for Hinamatsuri); hina doll
Ornamental dolls displayed for the Girls' Day festival (Hinamatsuri) on March 3rd. Short for 雛人形.
Usage
In sense 1, 雛 refers to baby birds of any species. In sense 2, it is short for 雛人形, the ornamental dolls displayed during 雛祭り (Girls' Day, March 3rd). Context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Common collocations
- 雛がかえる (chicks hatch)
- 雛を育てる (to raise chicks)
- 雛を飾る (to display hina dolls)
- 雛を片付ける (to put away the hina dolls)
Cultural note
There is a superstition that if the hina dolls are not put away promptly after March 3rd, the daughter of the household will have a late marriage.