also: よく
noun
General term for a bird's wing, an aircraft wing, or a wing-like part. Also used metaphorically for a person's 'wings' (ability to act freely).
鳥が翼を広げて飛び立った。
The bird spread its wings and took off.
飛行機の翼に氷がついていた。
Ice had formed on the airplane's wings.
noun
Chinese "Wings" constellation
Only with reading よく
Astronomical term for one of the 28 Chinese lunar mansions, read よく. Part of the Vermilion Bird (朱雀) group.
二十八宿の一つに「翼」があり、これは「よく」と読む。
One of the 28 mansions is 翼, read as よく.
suffix, counter
counter for birds or bird wings
Only with reading よく
Archaic counter, read よく. Not used in modern Japanese; replaced by 羽 (わ) or other counters.
古典では、鳥を数えるのに「翼」を「よく」と読んで使うことがあった。
In classical texts, 翼 was sometimes read as よく and used to count birds.