chickens

Originally was a pictograph of a chicken. Later changed to a phonosemantic compound of and (bird).

Components
奚 sound component

  Sound component

  

where? what? how? why?

隹 meaning component

  Meaning component

zhuī

  

bird

Evolution

雞 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
雞 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
雞 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
雞 Clerical script Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
雞 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

chickens; domestic fowl; fowl; chicken; CL:|[zhī]; (slang) prostitute

Most common words with 雞
Freq.
Word
Meaning

fowl

鸡蛋

(chicken) egg

鸡肉

chicken meat

火鸡

turkey

鸡尾酒

cocktail (loanword)