谣 (yáo) — folk song; ballad; nursery rhyme (in compounds like 歌谣, 童谣); rumor; unverified report (in compounds like 谣言, 造谣)
Definition
A bound form with two distinct meanings: in 歌谣 / 童谣 it means 'folk song / ballad / nursery rhyme'; in 谣言 / 造谣 it means 'rumor'. Rarely stands alone — usually combines with 歌, 童, or 言.
bound form
folk songballadnursery rhyme (in compounds like 歌谣, 童谣)rumorunverified report (in compounds like 谣言, 造谣)
Examples
- 。Zhè shǒu mín yáo zài mín jiān liú chuán le hěn jiǔ.This folk song has been passed down among the people for a long time.
- 。Xiǎo hái zi dōu xǐ huan chàng tóng yáo.Children all like to sing nursery rhymes.
- 。Bú yào xiāng xìn wǎng shàng de yáo yán.Don't believe the rumors online.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 謠; 谣 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
䍃
䍃䍃謠yáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 謠 puts 言, meaning speech, beside 䍃, which supplies the sound; the simplified 谣 is a later shorthand.
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