Definition
摇 (yáo) means to shake, rock, or row — a general back-and-forth motion. It is broader than 晃 (huàng), which suggests a looser, side-to-side sway, and less formal than 摇晃 (yáo huàng), a compound that emphasizes a gentle or repeated rocking. 摇 is also the verb for rowing a boat (摇船).
verb
to shaketo rockto row
Easily confused
- 要yàosound-aliketo want, to need
- 药yàosound-alikemedicine
- 咬yǎosound-aliketo bite; to nip
- 腰yāosound-alikewaist, lower back
- 邀yāosound-aliketo invite
- 窑yáosound-alikekiln (for firing pottery, bricks, or lime)
Examples
- 摇摇。Qǐng yáo yì yáo zhè píng yàoshuǐ zài hē.Please shake this bottle of medicine before drinking.
- 摇。Tā qīngqīng de yáo zhe yáolán lǐ de yīng'ér.She gently rocks the baby in the cradle.
- 摇。Tāmen yáo zhe xiǎo chuán xiàng húxīn qù.They rowed the small boat toward the center of the lake.
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