黒鳥

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
黒	鳥
こく Grade: 2	ちょう Grade: 2
on’yomi

Alternative spelling
黑鳥 (kyūjitai)

黒鳥 (kokuchō): a black swan and its cygnets.

Compound of 黒 (koku, “black”) +‎ 鳥 (chō, “bird”).

First cited to a text from 1179.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) こくちょー [kòkúchóó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ko̞kɯ̟̊ᵝt͡ɕo̞ː]

Noun

黒(こく)鳥(ちょう) or 黒鳥(コクチョウ) • (kokuchō) ^{←こくてう (kokuteu) or コクテウ (kokuteu)?}

1. [from 1179] (archaic, literal) a black-feathered bird
2. [from ???] a black swan, specifically Cygnus atratus

Usage notes

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary), as コクチョウ.

See also

• 白(ハク)鳥(チョウ) (hakuchō, “swan”, literally “white bird”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
黒	鳥
くろ Grade: 2	とり Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
黑鳥 (kyūjitai)

Compound of 黒 (kuro, “black”) +‎ 鳥 (tori, “bird”).

First cited in the Nihon Shoki of 720 CE.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) くろとり [kùrótórí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟ᵝɾo̞to̞ɾʲi]

Noun

黒(くろ)鳥(とり) • (kurotori) 

1. [from 720] (literal) a black-feathered bird
2. [from 934] (archaic) Synonym of 黒鴨 (kurogamo, “common scoter”)
3. [from 1692] (archaic) a black chicken