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摇曳 (yáo yè) — to sway gently; to flicker; to waver

Definition

Literary verb for a light, gentle, rhythmic movement — swaying branches, flickering candlelight, flowing skirts. Pairs with 轻轻 in writing; not the everyday word for "shake" (摇).

verb
to sway gentlyto flickerto waver

Examples

  • ，摇曳。
    Wēi fēng zhōng, liǔ tiáo qīng qīng yáo yè.
    In the breeze, the willow branches sway gently.
  • 摇曳，。
    Zhú guāng zài hēi àn zhōng yáo yè, xiǎn de gé wài wēn róu.
    The candlelight flickered in the darkness, appearing especially gentle.
  • 摇曳。
    Tā de qún bǎi suí zhe yīn yuè qīng qīng yáo yè.
    Her skirt swayed gently with the music.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

摇yáoshake
曳yèdrag

摇 suggests shaking, while 曳 means dragging, together describing a gentle back-and-forth motion.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 摇 →

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

  • 𦥑𦥑𦥑two hands
  • 人人rénperson

曳 may show 𦥑 (two hands) dragging 人 (a person).

Appears in
Change & Process

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