tu
tu — exclamation
1. a written form used to show the sound a wild owl makes, especially the tradition
a written form used to show the sound a wild owl makes, especially the traditional British literary representation 'tu-whit tu-whoo'.
From deep in the woods, we heard a soft 'tu-whit tu-whoo' drifting through the trees.
tu-whit tu-whoo as written owl call
The child whispered 'tu-whit tu-whoo' while pretending to be an owl in a garden game.
As darkness fell, an owl called out its steady tu-whit tu-whoo from the old oak tree.
The hiker stopped and listened carefully, but the tu-whit tu-whoo had fallen silent.
- hoot
a simpler, more common word for any owl's call; 'tu-whit tu-whoo' is a specific literary version.
文法句型
tu-whit tu-whoo (as exclamation)
用法筆記
This expression is strongly tied to traditional British nature writing and children's rhymes. It is rarely used in everyday speech outside of literary or playful contexts. The call is based on the sound of the tawny owl.