unknown, 16 strokes, radical 羽, rank #57422, Very Hard
áo(ao2) T2
1to soar; to roam
2to hover
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March 24, 2026
翱áo(ao2)
The character 翱 (áo) means to soar or roam freely, often used to describe birds gliding in the sky or people exploring vast spaces. It conveys a sense of freedom and elevation, commonly found in poetic contexts or descriptions of nature.
Strokes16Radical羽Frequency#57422DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the image of birds soaring is often used to symbolize freedom and aspiration. This reflects the deep cultural appreciation for nature and the philosophical ideals of transcending limitations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a majestic eagle (the radical '羽' represents feathers) soaring high in the sky. The sound 'áo' can remind you of 'owl', another bird that roams the night sky. Visualize the eagle gliding effortlessly, embodying the essence of 'soaring'.
Meanings of 翱
áo(ao2)
1to soar; to roam
2to hover
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 翱
翱Simplified
16Strokes
羽Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 翱
Podcast: 翱
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AI Study Notes for 翱
Quick Contrast
翱 (áo) vs 飞 (fēi): use 翱 to emphasize soaring freely, while 飞 indicates general flying without the same connotation of freedom.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a majestic eagle (the radical '羽' represents feathers) soaring high in the sky. The sound 'áo' can remind you of 'owl', another bird that roams the night sky. Visualize the eagle gliding effortlessly, embodying the essence of 'soaring'.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 翱 with similar characters like 飞 (fēi), which specifically means 'to fly.' This word is more poetic and less commonly used in everyday conversation. It is often found in literary contexts rather than casual speech.
HSK Study Tips
While 翱 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other nature-related verbs like 飞 (fēi, to fly) and 游 (yóu, to swim or roam). Students should focus on the imagery associated with these verbs to enhance their understanding of movement in Chinese.
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the image of birds soaring is often used to symbolize freedom and aspiration. This reflects the deep cultural appreciation for nature and the philosophical ideals of transcending limitations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 翱 with the more straightforward 飞 (fēi) and mistakenly use it in everyday contexts. For example, saying '我飞向家' (I soar home) should be corrected to '我飞回家' (I fly home) for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 翱
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Grammar Patterns of 翱
翱 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
远远去了的夏之音乐,____翔于秋间,寻求它的旧垒.
The music of the far - away summer flutters around the Autumn seeking its former nest.
Example Sentences for 翱 (4)
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1
远远去了的夏之音乐,翱翔于秋间,寻求它的旧垒.
yuǎn yuǎn qù le de xià zhī yīn lè, , áo xiáng yú qiū, jiān , xún qiú tā de.
The music of the far - away summer flutters around the Autumn seeking its former nest.
2
翱翔着的飞鸟和滑翔用的伞翼,是这架空前成功的人力飞机设计之关键.
áo xiáng zháo de fēi niǎo hé huá xiáng yòng de sǎn yì, , shì zhè jià kōng qián chéng gōng de rén lì fēi jī shè jì zhī guān.
Soaring birds and gliding wings were keys to the design of the first successful human - powered aircraft.
The afterglow so brilliantly aflame , ho ; the seagulls fluttering so carefree.
Cultural Notes for 翱
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese poetry, the image of birds soaring is often used to symbolize freedom and aspiration. This reflects the deep cultural appreciation for nature and the philosophical ideals of transcending limitations.
Word Family of 翱
Words Containing This Character2
翱翔to soar
翱áoto soar
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 翱翔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 翱
No, 翱 is more often found in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday speech.
You can say '鸟在天上翱翔' (The bird is soaring in the sky) to illustrate its usage.
Yes, similar words include 飞 (fēi, to fly) and 游 (yóu, to swim or roam), but each has its nuances.
