Usage Note
Lawin refers to a hawk or bird of prey and appears frequently in Filipino proverbs and folk literature as a symbol of predatory power or keen eyesight. It is also used metaphorically to describe a sharp, watchful person.
Examples
" Lumilipad ang lawin. "
Natural Translation
The hawk is flying.
Literal Translation
Flying the hawk.
" Malaki ang lawin. "
Natural Translation
The hawk is big.
Literal Translation
Big the hawk.
" Parang lawin ang tingin ng guro sa mga estudyanteng baka mangopya sa pagsusulit. "
Natural Translation
The teacher's gaze was like a hawk's on the students who might cheat on the exam.
Literal Translation
Like hawk the gaze of-the teacher to-the plural student that maybe will-copy in exam.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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