Meanings of 遙
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 遙
Podcast: 遙
Podcast: 遙
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 遙
遥 (yáo) vs 远 (yuǎn): use 遥 for a sense of longing or metaphorical distance, while 远 is more straightforwardly physical distance.
Avoid confusing 遙 with 远 (yuǎn), which also means 'far' but is more commonly used in everyday contexts. 遙 carries a more poetic or formal tone and often appears in literary settings. A common collocation is 遙遠 (yáoyuǎn), meaning 'distant or remote'.
While 遙 is not an HSK level word, it can be linked to other words describing distance and space like 远 (yuǎn) and 近 (jìn). Focus on understanding its usage in literary contexts and distinguishing it from more commonly used terms.
Learners often confuse 遙 with 远 (yuǎn). For instance, saying '這個地方很遙' (This place is very distant) is incorrect; the correct term would be '這個地方很遠'.
Pronunciation of 遙
Drill the tone of 遙 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 遙
Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 䍃 represents the sound. Simplified form of 遙.
walk
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 遙
Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 䍃 represents the sound. Simplified form of 遙.
- 1The meaning half辶 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half䍃 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywalk
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 遙? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 遙?
Decomposition of 遙
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 遙?
How to say distant, remote in Chinese
“distant, remote” in Chinese is遙
The character 遙 (yáo) means 'distant' or 'remote' and is commonly used to describe physical distance, such as 'a faraway place,' as well as metaphorical distance like ambitions or feelings. It often conveys a sense of longing or separation from something that is far away.
When to use 遙
Avoid confusing 遙 with 远 (yuǎn), which also means 'far' but is more commonly used in everyday contexts. 遙 carries a more poetic or formal tone and often appears in literary settings. A common collocation is 遙遠 (yáoyuǎn), meaning 'distant or remote'.
遙 or something close to it
遥 (yáo) vs 远 (yuǎn): use 遥 for a sense of longing or metaphorical distance, while 远 is more straightforwardly physical distance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 遙 with 远 (yuǎn). For instance, saying '這個地方很遙' (This place is very distant) is incorrect; the correct term would be '這個地方很遠'.
Write 遙
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 遙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 遙
遙 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
两名逃犯仍然逍____法外.
Two of the escaped prisoners are still at liberty.
Example Sentences for 遙 (1)
Word Family of 遙
Compound Meaning
What does 遥远 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 遙
You can use 遙 to describe both physical and emotional distances, for example, '他的心遙不可及' (His heart is distant and unattainable).
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 遙?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.