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遥望 (yáo wàng) — to gaze into the distance

Definition

Literary verb for gazing far into the distance, often at scenery or the horizon (not a specific person). Pairs with 远方/星空/对岸; more elevated than plain 看.

verb
to gaze into the distance

Examples

  • ，遥望。
    Tā zhàn zài shān dǐng, yáo wàng yuǎn fāng.
    He stood on the mountaintop, gazing into the distance.
  • 遥望，。
    yáo wàng Xīng kōng, ràng rén gǎn dào wú xiàn miǎo xiǎo.
    Gazing at the starry sky makes one feel infinitely small.
  • 遥望，。
    Zài chuán shàng yáo wàng duì àn, fēng jǐng hěn měi.
    From the boat, looking at the opposite shore, the scenery is beautiful.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

遥yáofar
望wànglook

遥 (far) sets the direction for 望 (look), so the action is to gaze into the distance.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 遥 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

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Appears in
Senses

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