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超脱 (chāo tuō) — to be detached (from worldly affairs); to transcend; to stand aloof

Definition

超脱 means rising above worldly concerns — detachment, freedom from ego, status, or convention. More literary than 摆脱 (to break free from a specific thing); 超越 stresses going beyond a limit, while 超脱 is an inner stance.

verb
to be detached (from worldly affairs)to transcendto stand aloof

Examples

  • 超脱，。
    Tā chāo tuō yú míng lì zhī wài, huó dé fēi cháng zì zài.
    He is detached from fame and wealth, living very freely.
  • 超脱，。
    Tā de sī xiǎng hěn chāo tuō, cóng bú jì jiào gè rén dé shī.
    Her thinking is very detached; she never fusses about personal gains or losses.
  • 超脱，。
    Tā nǔ lì chāo tuō shì sú de shù fù, zhuī qiú nèi xīn de píng jìng.
    He strives to transcend worldly constraints and pursue inner peace.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

超chāotranscend
脱tuōdetach

超 means to transcend or rise above, and 脱 means to detach or free oneself, together suggesting being aloof from worldly affairs.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒurun
Sound part声符shēngfú
召
召zhào超chāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

超 pairs 走, meaning “run,” with 召, which gives the sound.

Open 超 →

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 脫; 脱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì脫tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脫 puts ⺼ (meat) beside 兌, which gives the sound; the simplified 脱 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 脱 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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