滑翔 (huá xiáng) — to glide; to soar (without engine power) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers specifically to gliding or soaring through the air without engine power, such as a glider, bird, or paraglider. Distinct from 飞 (fēi), the general word for flying, including with propulsion.

verb

to glideto soar (without engine power)

Examples

滑翔，。
Tā xué huì le huá xiáng, xiàn zài jīng cháng qù shān shàng fēi.
He learned to glide, and now he often goes flying in the mountains.
滑翔，。
Lǎo yīng zài kōng zhōng huá xiáng, xún zhǎo liè wù.
The eagle glides in the sky, looking for prey.
滑翔。
huá xiáng Yùn dòng xū yào zhuān yè zhuāng bèi hé xùn liàn.
Gliding requires professional equipment and training.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

滑 expresses gliding and 翔 expresses soaring; together they mean to move through the air without engine power.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

骨

骨gǔ滑huá

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

滑 pairs 水 (water) with 骨, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

羊羽翔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

羽羽yǔfeathers

Sound part声符shēngfú

羊

羊yáng翔xiáng

Same sound today

翔 pairs 羽 (feathers) with 羊, which gives the sound. The feathers part connects to soaring.

Appears in

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