徐徐 (xú xú) — slowly; gently; steady; calm; relaxed and digni…

Definition

Literary adjective meaning 'slowly and calmly' — used in writing to describe graceful, unhurried movement (a breeze, a curtain, a train arriving). Softer and more poetic than 缓慢.

adjective

slowlygentlysteadycalmrelaxed and dignified

Examples

徐徐，。
Wēi fēng xú xú chuī guò, dài lái huā xiāng.
A gentle breeze blew by, bringing the scent of flowers.
徐徐，。
Tā xú xú dì jǔ qǐ shǒu, shì yì dà jiā ān jìng.
He slowly raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
徐徐，。
Liè chē xú xú shǐ rù zhàn tái, chéng kè men kāi shǐ zhǔn bèi xià chē.
The train slowly pulled into the platform, and passengers began to prepare to get off.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

徐xúslow

The two 徐 parts, each meaning 'slow', give 徐徐 a slow, steady, gentle sense.

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.

彳余徐

Meaning part形符xíngfú

彳彳chìwalk slowly

Sound part声符shēngfú

余

余yú徐xú

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 彳 shows walking slowly, while the right part 余 gives the character its sound.

Open 徐 →