翔 xiáng to soar
to soar; to hover; to glide
怎么记住“翔”: 羊 sheep + 羽 feather = to soar. On the hillside the sheep look up at an eagle that spreads every feather and begins to soar above them.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
翔 = 羊 sheep + 羽 feather
- 羊 sheep sound
- 羽 feather meaning
On the hillside the sheep look up at an eagle that spreads every feather and begins to soar above them.
How it came to be
The feathers give the meaning and the sheep the sound; the word first meant flying in circles.
用法
- Bound; means to glide with wings spread, not just "fly" but soar and circle. Lives in 飞翔 (fēixiáng) to soar, 滑翔 (huáxiáng) to glide, 翱翔 (áoxiáng) to hover on high.
- Contrast 飞 (fēi), the plain verb "fly": 翔 adds the image of effortless gliding, so it's the more vivid, literary choice; 雄鹰在天空翱翔 (xióngyīng zài tiānkōng áoxiáng) the eagle soars across the sky.