骁勇 (xiāo yǒng) — brave, valiant (literary, written Chinese)

Definition

Literary adjective for martial bravery, mostly in historical or epic contexts (kings, knights, generals). Stronger and far more written than 勇敢.

adjective
bravevaliant (literary, written Chinese)

Examples

  • 骁勇，。
    Zhè wèi jiāng jūn shí fēn xiāo yǒng, zài zhàn chǎng shàng wú rén néng dí.
    This general is extremely brave and invincible on the battlefield.
  • 骁勇，。
    Tā xiāo yǒng shàn zhàn, lì xià le xǔ duō zhàn gōng.
    He is valiant and skilled in battle, having earned many military merits.
  • 骁勇，。
    Gù shi zhōng de qí shì xiāo yǒng wú bǐ, zuì zhōng zhàn shèng le dí rén.
    The knight in the story was incomparably brave and ultimately defeated the enemy.

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.

骁xiāobrave
勇yǒngvaliant

骁 and 勇 both carry the sense of brave or valiant, so the pair reinforces that quality.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 驍; 骁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo驍
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 驍 has 馬 (horse) beside 堯, which gives the sound; the simplified 骁 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical sound part.

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
力力lìstrong
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng勇yǒng
Same sound today

勇 pairs 甬, which gives the sound, with 力, a strength part, to mean brave and strong.

Open 勇 →

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