摇旗呐喊 (yáo qí nà hǎn) — to cheer on; to root for; to publicly support (loudly or visibly)

Definition

A vivid chengyu meaning to 'wave flags and shout' — to cheer someone on loudly and publicly, often in support of a side rather than staying neutral. Implies visible, active rallying, not just quiet agreement.

idiom
to cheer onto root forto publicly support (loudly or visibly)

Examples

  • 摇旗呐喊。
    Dà jiā dōu zài wèi cān sài zhě yáo qí nà hǎn.
    Everyone is cheering on the contestants.
  • ，摇旗呐喊。
    Zhè cì xuǎn jǔ zhōng, hěn duō xuǎn mín wèi hòu xuǎn rén yáo qí nà hǎn.
    In this election, many voters are cheering for their candidates.
  • 摇旗呐喊。
    Qiú mí men zài kàn tái shàng fēng kuáng dì yáo qí nà hǎn.
    The fans are cheering wildly in the stands.

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.

摇旗wave a flag
摇yáowave旗qíflag
动宾Verb + object
呐喊shout
呐nàshout喊hǎnshout
联合Side by side

“摇旗呐喊” waves flags and shouts loudly to cheer someone on.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 摇 →

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
㫃㫃㫃flag
Sound part声符shēngfú
其
其qí旗qí
Same sound today

旗 pairs 㫃, a flag, with 其, which gives the pronunciation qí.

Open 旗 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
内
内nèi呐
Same sound today

呐 pairs 口 (mouth) with 内, the part that supplies the sound.

Open 呐 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián喊hǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

喊 puts 口 (mouth) beside 咸, showing a mouth action and using 咸 for the sound.

Open 喊 →

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