ENGLISH
REFERENCE

kun

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈkən// kun

n. a giant fish from Chinese stories that can turn into a massive bird. It represents something so huge that it is hard to imagine.

n. a legendary sea creature of enormous size from Chinese mythology, first described in the 'Zhuangzi', capable of transforming into a giant bird named Peng.


SIMPLE

The ancient story describes the Kun as a fish thousands of miles long.

CONTEXTUAL

In classical Chinese literature, the transformation of the Kun into a bird symbolizes a profound spiritual or intellectual shift.

COMPLEX

The philosopher Zhuangzi uses the image of the Kun to illustrate the limitations of human perspective when confronted with the vastness of the natural world.

Usage

Often capitalized as a proper noun in mythological contexts; frequently paired with its avian counterpart, the Peng.

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