嚣 (áo) — (bound form) clamor, hubbub

Definition

A bound (书面) morph meaning 'clamor, hubbub' — it does not stand alone. You meet it in set pieces like 叫嚣 (clamor/shout), 喧嚣 (noisy, bustling), and the literary 尘嚣 ('dust and noise' = worldly commotion).

bound form
clamorhubbub
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā de jiào áo shēng ràng rén wú fǎ rěn shòu.
    His clamoring was unbearable.
  • 嚣，。
    Jiē shàng áo rán yí piàn, shí fēn cáo zá.
    The street was full of noise, very chaotic.
  • 嚣，。
    Chén áo zhī zhōng, tā yī rán bǎo chí lěng jìng.
    Amid the hubbub, he remained calm.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 囂; 嚣 is its simplified writing.

  • 㗊㗊㗊four mouths; to clamor
  • 頁頁yèhead

The traditional form 囂 combines 㗊 (four mouths) with 頁 (head) to show a clamoring crowd; the simplified 嚣 is a later abbreviation.

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