<p>翅膀 is Modern Vernacular Chinese, while 翼 is Classical Chinese.</p>

<p>Think of Classical Latin terms used in Modern English, such as "de facto", "de jure", and "etc". The difference between 翅膀 and 翼 is just like the difference between "fear of heights" and "acrophobia".</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>鸡翼 / 雞翼 = 鸡翅膀 / 雞翅膀 = chicken wing(s)</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p>However, 翅膀 is preferred to be used for living animals, such as 鸡翅膀 (chicken wings), while 翼 is more often used for aircrafts or politics, such as 机翼 / 機翼 (aircraft wings) and 左翼 (left-wing politics).</p>

<p>I think that it is mainly because technical terms are always chosen from classical words while colloquial terms are mainly chosen from vernacular words. This phenomenon also exists in English: when talking about technical terms, people choose words from Latin or Greek, such as acrophobia, pedophobia, xenophobia; when talking about colloquial terms, people choose words from English, such as fear of heights, fear of children, fear of foreigners.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-30T19:20:43.283Z
2019-04-01T07:21:49.063Z
2019-04-01T07:21:49.063Z
Victor
<p>users recommend consulting online dictionaries noting large number of usage examples, bkrs: <strong>翼</strong>I <strong>b.f.</strong>（bound form !)
1) wing (双翼) ①&lt;名>鸟类或昆虫的翅膀。
2) flank (左翼) 
examples of <strong>bound form use</strong>: 右翼 左翼 两翼 侧翼 羽翼 机翼 不翼而飞 鼻翼 比翼 如虎添翼 极右翼 比翼齐飞 南翼 双翼 尾翼 比翼鸟 蝉翼 卵翼 水翼船 </p>

<p><strong>翅膀</strong> <strong>unbound</strong>！(free)① 翅通称。
② 物体上形状或作用像翅膀的部分：飞机翅膀。
某些动物用以飞行的器官或某些象翅膀的东西 鸟类及昆虫的翼<strong>CL:个,对</strong> (naturally no CL for 翼)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-30T12:33:39.363Z
2019-03-30T12:33:39.363Z
user6065
<p>翅膀 is a compound word only refers to actual wing attached to living creatures. Airplane's wing can only be called 機翼</p>

<p>翼 is a general term for wing. Beside describing all kind of wings. It can also be used metaphorically.  For example: '左翼' (left wing) '右翼' (right wing) in politic; '側翼'  (side wing) in military formations;  翼鋒 (left or right side striker) in soccer; 東翼 (East wing), 南翼(South wing), 西翼(West wing), 北翼(North wing) of a building</p>

<p>You cannot replace 翼 with 翅膀 in these examples </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-30T12:33:50.813Z
2019-03-30T12:39:16.230Z
2019-03-30T12:39:16.230Z
Tang Ho
<p>As far as I know, both 翼 and 翅膀 mean "wing". I've heard people say "雞翼", "雞翅膀", "固定翼飛機", "鳥翅膀". All of these are wings, so what is the difference between 翼 and 翅膀? When should one be used over the other?</p>

<vocabulary><difference>
What is the difference between 翼 and 翅膀?
# What is the difference between 翼 and 翅膀?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-30)

As far as I know, both 翼 and 翅膀 mean "wing". I've heard people say "雞翼", "雞翅膀", "固定翼飛機", "鳥翅膀". All of these are wings, so what is the difference between 翼 and 翅膀? When should one be used over the other?

**Tags:** vocabulary, difference


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-03-30. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

翅膀 is a compound word only refers to actual wing attached to living creatures. Airplane's wing can only be called 機翼

翼 is a general term for wing. Beside describing all kind of wings. It can also be used metaphorically. For example: '左翼' (left wing) '右翼' (right wing) in politic; '側翼' (side wing) in military formations; 翼鋒 (left or right side striker) in soccer; 東翼 (East wing), 南翼(South wing), 西翼(West wing), 北翼(North wing) of a building

You cannot replace 翼 with 翅膀 in these examples


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### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-30. Score: 3

翅膀 is Modern Vernacular Chinese, while 翼 is Classical Chinese.

Think of Classical Latin terms used in Modern English, such as "de facto", "de jure", and "etc". The difference between 翅膀 and 翼 is just like the difference between "fear of heights" and "acrophobia".

> 鸡翼 / 雞翼 = 鸡翅膀 / 雞翅膀 = chicken wing(s)

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However, 翅膀 is preferred to be used for living animals, such as 鸡翅膀 (chicken wings), while 翼 is more often used for aircrafts or politics, such as 机翼 / 機翼 (aircraft wings) and 左翼 (left-wing politics).

I think that it is mainly because technical terms are always chosen from classical words while colloquial terms are mainly chosen from vernacular words. This phenomenon also exists in English: when talking about technical terms, people choose words from Latin or Greek, such as acrophobia, pedophobia, xenophobia; when talking about colloquial terms, people choose words from English, such as fear of heights, fear of children, fear of foreigners.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-03-30. Score: 1

users recommend consulting online dictionaries noting large number of usage examples, bkrs: **翼**I **b.f.**（bound form !)
1) wing (双翼) ①<名>鸟类或昆虫的翅膀。
2) flank (左翼)
examples of **bound form use**: 右翼 左翼 两翼 侧翼 羽翼 机翼 不翼而飞 鼻翼 比翼 如虎添翼 极右翼 比翼齐飞 南翼 双翼 尾翼 比翼鸟 蝉翼 卵翼 水翼船

**翅膀** **unbound**！(free)① 翅通称。
② 物体上形状或作用像翅膀的部分：飞机翅膀。
某些动物用以飞行的器官或某些象翅膀的东西 鸟类及昆虫的翼**CL:个,对** (naturally no CL for 翼)


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