Hirundinidae
燕科
yàn kē

General

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Malay/Indonesian names are being revised. Comments and corrections are welcome.

The Chinese term for swallows in general is 燕 yàn, but does not usually occur as a word on its own. In the spoken language, swallows are referred to as 燕子 yànzi, which is most commonly understood as the common Hirundo rustica. The word 燕 is clearly related to a number of names in Southeast Asian languages, including Thai แอ่น àeen and Vietnamese én. In Early Middle Chinese the pronunciation of 燕 is believed to have been ʔɛnʰ (Pulleyblank).

The word 燕 yàn is an archetypal bird name in Chinese and is found in the names of numerous other birds. Linguistically, the swifts are identified as 雨燕 yǔ-yàn 'rain swallows'. Other birds with 燕 yàn in their names include the brambling (燕雀 yàn-què 'swallow-sparrow' or more accurately 'swallow-finch'), the hobby (燕隼 yàn-sǔn 'swallow-falcon'), the pratincoles (燕鸻 yàn-héng 'swallow-plover'), the terns (燕鸥 yàn-ōu 'swallow-gull'), and the storm petrels (海燕 hǎi-yàn 'sea swallow'), although it is possible that some of these may be due to borrowing. More obviously ornithological terms include wood swallows (燕 yàn-jú 'swallow-shrike') and tree swifts (树燕 shù-yàn 'tree swallow' or 雨燕 yǔ-yàn 'rain-swallow' i.e. swift).

燕 yàn is also used in popular names in families ranging from the Alaudidae to the Dicruridae, from the Campephagidae to the Muscicapidae to the Zosteropidae.

Early ornithological names, as seen in the earliest list of Chinese ornithological names, Birds of China (35) published in 1927, were influenced by Japanese, but as a result of changes in species and generic assignments the connections are no longer obvious.

Naming subdivisions within the Hirundinidae include:

1. Members of the genus Delichon are called 毛脚燕 máo-jiǎo yàn 'hairy-legged swallow'.

2. Members of the genus Cecropis are described with reference to their rumps as 金腰燕 jin-yāo-yàn 'gold-rumped swallow' or 斑腰燕 bān-yāo-yàn 'stripe-rumped swallow'.

3. Members of the genus Ptyonoprogne are known as 岩燕 yán-yàn 'rock swallows', probably influenced by English 'crag martin'.

4. The genus Riparia are known as 沙燕 shā-yàn 'sand swallows', a calque on English 'sand martin'.

CULTURAL

In Chinese culture, the swallow is a bird symbolic of feminine grace and beauty. 赵飞燕 zhào fēiyàn (literally 'flying swallow Zhao') was an empress of the Han dynasty famed to this day for her slender beauty. 燕 yàn is still frequently used in girls' names in China.

The swallow is also traditionally regarded as a symbol of matrimonial tenderness, due to the habit of mating pairs building nests in human habitations.

There are a number of expressions containing the word 燕 yàn, including:

• 燕雀安置鸿鹄之志 yànquè ān zhī hónghú zhī zhì 'how could a sparrow understand the ambitions of the swan' (a lowly person cannot read the mind of a great man)
• 燕雀处堂 yànquè chǔtáng 'swallows and sparrows nesting in the hall' (unaware of the spreading blaze) -- i.e., to be unaware of imminent danger.
• 夫妇燕好 fūfù yànhǎo 'husband and wife as good swallows' i.e., connubial bliss.
• 燕语莺声 yànyǔ yīngshēng 'swallow speech oriole voice' -- scenes of spring with cheerfully chirping birds, now more likely to be used for the sweet charming voices of girls.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE

HIRUNDININAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			EAST		SOUTH	NORTH
Delichon
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Delichon urbicum Delichon urbica	Northern house martin Northern house-martin Common house martin House martin	毛脚燕 (毛腳燕) máo-jiǎo-yàn 'hair-leg swallow' or 白腹毛脚燕 (白腹毛腳燕) bái-fù máo-jiǎo-yàn 'white-breasted hair-legged swallow' (alt in 1)		岩燕 (岩燕) yán-yàn 'rock swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	ニシイワツバメ (西岩燕) nishi iwa-tsubame 'Western rock-swallow'	흰턱제비 huin-teok-jebi 'white-chinned swallow'	Chim Nhạn hông trắng Xibêri 'Siberian white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 34)	Хүрээний хараацай ᠬᠦᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ ᠵᠢᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ khüreeni kharaatsai 'wall/fence swallow' Inner M: Үсэн саварт хараацай ᠦᠰᠣᠨ ᠰᠠᠪᠠᠷᠲᠣ ᠬᠠᠪᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ üseŋ savart kharaatsai 'hair-clawed swallow' (31, 33) or Өдөн олонт хараацай ᠦᠳᠦᠨ ᠣᠯᠠᠨᠲᠣ ᠬᠠᠪᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ ödöŋ olont kharaatsai 'many-feathered swallow' (33)
Delichon dasypus	Asian house martin Asian house-martin	烟腹毛脚燕 (煙腹毛腳燕) yān-fù máo-jiǎo-yàn 'smoky-bellied hair-legged swallow'	(东方毛脚燕) 東方毛腳燕 dōngfāng máo-jiǎo-yàn 'eastern hair-legged swallow'	黑颏岩燕 (黑頦岩燕) hēi-kē yán-yàn 'black-chinned rock swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	イワツバメ (岩燕) iwa-tsubame 'rock-swallow'	흰털발제비 huin-teol-bal-jebi 'white hair-legged swallow'	Chim Nhạn hông trắng Á châu 'Asian white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 13)	Цармын хараацай ᠴᠠᠷᠠᠮ ᠤᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ tsarmiŋ kharaatsai 'mountain-hollow swallow'
Delichon nipalense Delichon nipalensis	Nepal house martin Nepal house-martin	黑喉毛脚燕 (黑喉毛腳燕) hēi-hóu máo-jiǎo-yàn 'black-throated hair-legged swallow'		金尾根燕 (金尾根燕) jīn-wěi-gēn yàn 'gold-tail-root swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	ノドグロイワツバメ (喉黒岩燕) nodo-guro iwa-tsubame 'black-throated rock-swallow'		Chim Nhạn hông trắng Nêpan 'Nepalese white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 34)
Cecropis
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Cecropis daurica Hirundo daurica	Red-rumped swallow Golden-rumped swallow	金腰燕 (金腰燕) jīn-yāo yàn 'gold-rumped swallow'	(金腰燕) 金腰燕 jīn-yāo yàn 'gold-rumped swallow'	赤腰燕 (赤腰燕) chì-yāo-yàn 'red-rumped swallow' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 巧燕 (巧燕) qiǎo-yàn 'skilful swallow' (northern) (35) 道瑞恩竖纹燕 (道瑞恩豎紋燕) dào-ruì-ēn shù-wén yàn 'Daurian vertical-striped swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	コシアカツバメ (腰赤燕) koshi-aka tsubame 'red-rumped swallow'	귀제비 gwi-jebi 'returning? swallow'	Hirundo daurica: Chim Nhạn bụng xám 'grey-bellied swallow (bird)' (12, 13)	Монгол алтанхараацай ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠠᠯᠲᠠᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ moŋgol altaŋ-kharaatsai 'Mongolian golden-swallow' Inner M: Алтан хараацай ᠠᠯᠲᠠᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ altaŋ kharaatsai 'golden swallow' (31, 33) or Уран хараацай ᠣᠷᠠᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ uraŋ kharaatsai 'deft swallow' (33)
Cecropis striolata Hirundo striolata	Striated swallow Greater striated swallow	斑腰燕 (斑腰燕) bān-yāo yàn 'stripe-rumped swallow'	(赤腰燕) 赤腰燕 chì-yāo yàn 'red-rumped swallow'	竖纹燕 (豎紋燕) shù-wén yàn 'vertical-striped swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	オオコシアカツバメ (大腰赤燕) ō koshi-aka tsubame 'large red-rumped swallow'		Hirundo striolata: Chim Nhạn bụng vằn 'stripe-bellied swallow (bird)' (12)
Hirundo
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Hirundo rustica	Barn swallow House swallow Swallow	家燕 (家燕) jiā-yàn 'house swallow'	(家燕) 家燕 jiā-yàn 'house swallow'	燕子 (燕子) yànzi 'swallow' 拙燕 (拙燕) zhuō-yàn 'clumsy swallow' (northern) (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 家燕 (家燕) jiā-yàn 'house swallow' (northern) (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 东方家燕 (東方家燕) dōng-fāng jiā-yàn 'eastern house swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	ツバメ (燕) tsubame 'swallow'	제비 jebi 'swallow'	Chim Nhạn bụng trắng 'white-bellied swallow (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Асрын алтанхараацай ᠠᠰᠠᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠠᠯᠲᠠᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ asriŋ altaŋ-kharaatsai 'tower gold-swallow' Inner M: Хараацай ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ kharaatsai 'swallow' (31, 33) or Гэрийн хараацай ᠭᠡᠷ ᠦᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ geriŋ kharaatsai 'house swallow' (31, 33) or Цагаан элэгт хараацай ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠡᠯᠢᠭᠡᠲᠦ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ tsagaaŋ elegt kharaatsai 'white-breasted swallow' (33)
Ptyonoprogne
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Ptyonoprogne rupestris Hirundo rupestris	Eurasian crag martin Eurasian crag-martin Crag martin	岩燕 (岩燕) yán-yàn 'rock-swallow'			ガケツバメ (崖燕) gake tsubame 'cliff swallow'	바위산제비 bawi-san-jebi 'craggy-mountain swallow'		Харагчин хараацгай ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠭᠠᠢ kharagchiŋ kharaatsgai 'wagtail swallow (variant form)' Inner M: Үхэр хараацай ᠦᠬᠡᠷ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ ükher kharaatsai 'ox swallow' (31, 33) or Хадан хараацай ᠬᠠᠳᠠᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ khadaŋ kharaatsai 'rock swallow' (33)
Ptyonoprogne concolor Hirundo concolor	Dusky crag martin Dusky crag-martin Dusky crag swallow	纯色岩燕 (純色岩燕) chún-sè yán-yàn 'pure-coloured rock-swallow'			インドチャイロツバメ (インド茶色燕) indo cha-iro tsubame 'Indian brown swallow'		Hirundo concolor: Chim Nhạn nâu hung 'reddish brown swallow (bird)' (12)
Riparia
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Riparia paludicola	Plain martin Brown-throated sand martin African sand martin	褐喉沙燕 (褐喉沙燕) hè-hóu shā-yàn 'brown throated sand-swallow'	(棕沙燕) 棕沙燕 zōng shā-yàn 'reddishbrown sand-swallow'	华南沙岩燕 (華南沙岩燕) huá-nán shā yán-yàn 'South Chinese sand rock swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	タイワンショウドウツバメ (台湾小洞燕) taiwan shōdō tsubame 'Taiwan small hole swallow'		Chim Nhạn nâu đỏ 'red-brown swallow (bird)' (12)
Riparia riparia	Sand martin or Bank swallow Collared sand martin	崖沙燕 (崖沙燕) yá shā-yàn 'cliff sand-swallow'	(灰沙燕) 灰沙燕 huī shā-yàn 'grey sand-swallow'	沙燕 (沙燕) shā-yàn 'sand-swallow' 水燕子 (水燕子) shuǐ yànzi 'water swallow' 土燕子 (土燕子) tǔ yàn-zi 'earth swallow' (also used for pratincoles) 沙岩燕 (沙岩燕) shā yán-yàn 'sand rock swallow' (early ornithological) (35)	ショウドウツバメ (小洞燕) shōdō tsubame 'small hole swallow'	갈색제비 gal-saek-jebi 'brown-coloured swallow'	Chim Nhạn nâu xám 'grey brown swallow (bird)' (12, 34)	Элсэг эргийнхараацай ᠡᠯᠰᠡᠭ᠌ ᠡᠷᠬᠢ  ᠤᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ elseg ergiŋ-kharaatsai 'sandpiper cliff-swallow' Inner M: Бор элсний хараацай ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠡᠯᠰᠦᠨ ᠦ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ bor elsni kharaatsai 'dun sand swallow' (31, 33) IM also: Эргийн хараацай ᠡᠷᠬᠢ ᠤᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ ergiŋ kharaatsai 'cliff swallow' (31)
Riparia diluta	Pale Martin Pale Sand Martin Pale sand swallow	淡色崖沙燕 (淡色崖沙燕) dàn-sè yá shā-yàn 'pale-coloured cliff sand-swallow'		淡色沙燕 (淡色沙燕) dàn-sè shā-yàn 'pale-coloured sand-swallow'	-			Бүгээн эргийнхараацай ᠪᠦᠭᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠡᠷᠬᠢ ᠤᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠴᠠᠢ bügeeŋ ergiŋ-kharaatsai 'light-coloured cliff-swallow' (Internet)

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