雄威 (xióng wēi) — majestic, awe-inspiring, imposing (of appearance, bearing, or atmosphere)

Definition

A literary adjective meaning 'majestic and awe-inspiring' — used for imposing appearances, bearing, or atmosphere, more formal and written than 威风 ('commanding presence').

adjective
majesticawe-inspiringimposing (of appearance, bearing, or atmosphere)

Examples

  • 雄威。
    Zhè zuò shān fēng xiǎn de shí fēn xióng wēi.
    This mountain peak appears very majestic.
  • ，雄威凛凛，。
    Tā zhàn zài tái shàng, xióng wēi lǐn lǐn, lìng rén jìng wèi.
    He stood on the stage, awe-inspiring and commanding respect.
  • 雄威。
    Jūn duì de xióng wēi qì shì ràng dí rén dǎn hán.
    The army's majestic aura made the enemy tremble.

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.

雄xióngstrong
威wēiawe

雄 (strong) and 威 (awe) together convey imposing majesty.

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
隹隹zhuī
Sound part声符shēngfú
厷
厷gōng雄xióng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

雄 is formed by putting 隹 together with 厷, with 厷 giving the character's sound.

Open 雄 →

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

威 is made by combining 戌 and 女.

Open 威 →

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