超然 (chāo rán) — aloof, detached, transcendent | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

An elevated, literary adjective meaning 'aloof, transcendent' — rising above worldly concerns rather than being emotionally disengaged. Often used to describe a state of mind (心境) or attitude (态度).

adjective

aloofdetachedtranscendent

Examples

超然。
Tā duì míng lì de tài dù fēi cháng chāo rán.
His attitude toward fame and fortune is very detached.
，超然。
Zài luàn shì zhōng, tā shǐ zhōng bǎo chí chāo rán de xīn jìng.
Amid chaotic times, he always maintained a transcendent state of mind.
超然。
Zhè wèi yì shù jiā de fēng gé chāo rán tuō sú.
This artist's style is aloof and free from vulgarity.

Origin

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

超chāorise above

然ránstate/manner

超 means to rise above, and 然 suggests a state, so the sense is aloof.

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.

走召超

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

召

召zhào超chāo

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

超 pairs 走, meaning “run,” with 召, 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

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