昂扬 (áng yáng) — high-spirited | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

昂扬 describes a spirit, morale, or voice that is lifted up and full of vigor — a more literary, written alternative to 高昂. Often used for collective morale or emotional energy rather than a single person.

verb

high-spirited

Examples

昂扬。
Shì bīng men shì qì áng yáng.
The soldiers' morale is high-spirited.
昂扬嘹。
Tā de gē shēng áng yáng liáo liàng.
His singing is high-spirited and sonorous.
昂扬。
Zhè ge tuán duì yǒng yuǎn bǎo chí zhe áng yáng de dòu zhì.
This team always maintains high-spirited fighting spirit.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

昂 and 扬 both convey rising or lifting, together suggesting high spirits.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

日卬昂

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun

Sound part声符shēngfú

卬

卬áng昂áng

Same sound today

昂 pairs 日 (sun) with 卬, a drawing of a standing man and a kneeling man that gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 揚; 扬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

昜

昜yáng揚

Same sound today

The traditional form 揚 uses 手 to show a hand-related action and 昜 to give the sound; the simplified 扬 is a later abbreviation.

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