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飖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
飖yáofloating in the air; drifting on the windzg, 14 strokes, radical 风
yáo(yao2)yao T2
  1. 1floating in the air; drifting on the wind
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March 24, 2026

飖(颻)yáo(yao2)

The character 飖 (yáo) refers to the action of floating or drifting in the air, often associated with lightness and freedom. It is commonly used in poetic contexts to describe objects or beings that move gracefully through the air, such as birds or kites. This term evokes a sense of ease and serenity in its imagery.

Strokes14Radical风
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of drifting or floating often symbolizes freedom and unrestrained beauty, commonly seen in traditional poetry and art. For instance, kites are a popular cultural symbol during festivals, representing aspirations and dreams soaring in the sky.

Memory tip

Imagine a graceful bird, symbolizing freedom, floating in the air. The character 飖 has the radical for 'food' (食) on top, suggesting something light and airy, while the bottom part resembles the fluttering motion of wings, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation (yáo).

Meanings of 飖

yáo(yao2)
1floating in the air; drifting on the wind
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 飖

飖Simplified
颻Traditional
14Strokes
风Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 飖

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AI study notes for 飖

Quick Contrast

飘 (piāo) - use 飖 (yáo) when emphasizing a graceful, light movement, while 飘 (piāo) can imply a more casual or unsteady drifting.

Usage Notes

This character is mostly used in literary and poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is crucial. Common collocations include phrases describing natural phenomena or artistic expressions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 飖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to other HSK words related to nature and movement. For learners, focusing on the visual and poetic aspects of the word can enhance retention and understanding. Practice using it in descriptive sentences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 飖 with similar characters due to its unique components. For example, saying '飞' (fēi) instead of '飖' (yáo) is a common error; remember that 飖 emphasizes a gentle floating motion rather than just flying.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 飖

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Etymology of 飖

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

wind

Semantic (meaning)风
+
Phonetic (sound)䍃
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

飖 = 风 + 䍃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 飖

IDS Structure⿰䍃风
飖Full character
=
䍃you2
left
风feng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 飖?

How to say floating in the air; drifting on the wind in Chinese

“floating in the air; drifting on the wind” in Chinese is飖yáo

The character 飖 (yáo) refers to the action of floating or drifting in the air, often associated with lightness and freedom. It is commonly used in poetic contexts to describe objects or beings that move gracefully through the air, such as birds or kites. This term evokes a sense of ease and serenity in its imagery.

When to use 飖

This character is mostly used in literary and poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is crucial. Common collocations include phrases describing natural phenomena or artistic expressions.

飖 or something close to it

飘 (piāo) - use 飖 (yáo) when emphasizing a graceful, light movement, while 飘 (piāo) can imply a more casual or unsteady drifting.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 飖 with similar characters due to its unique components. For example, saying '飞' (fēi) instead of '飖' (yáo) is a common error; remember that 飖 emphasizes a gentle floating motion rather than just flying.

Write 飖

飖

Practice writing 飖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 飖

Words containing this character1
飖yáofloating in the air颻

Frequently asked questions about 飖

The correct pronunciation is 'yáo,' with the second tone. Make sure to raise your voice slightly when saying it.

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