悠扬 (yōu yáng) — melodious, mellifluous | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Describes music or sound that is melodious, long-drawn, and gently rising and falling — usually voices or wind instruments heard from a distance.

adjective

melodiousmellifluous

Examples

悠扬。
Shān gǔ lǐ chuán lái yōu yáng de gē shēng.
From the valley came melodious singing.
悠扬。
Zhè shǒu qǔ zi de xuán lǜ hěn yōu yáng.
The melody of this piece is very melodious.
悠扬。
Yuǎn chù chuán lái yōu yáng de dí shēng.
From afar came the melodious sound of a flute.

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.

悠yōulingering

悠 (lingering) and 扬 (rising) describe a sound that flows and lifts melodiously.

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.

攸心悠

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart; mind

Sound part声符shēngfú

攸

攸yōu悠yōu

Same sound today

悠 pairs 攸, which gives the sound, with 心, meaning heart or mind.

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 揚; 扬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

昜

昜yáng揚

Same sound today

The traditional form 揚 uses 手 to show a hand-related action and 昜 to give the sound; the simplified 扬 is a later abbreviation.

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