soar to the clouds; lofty aspiration
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesverb
to rise straight up to the clouds; to tower into the sky
literaryUsed literally to describe things like mountains or tall buildings reaching great heights. Often used in a literary or poetic context.
Tài泰
shān山
wēi巍
é峨
，
shì势
kě可
líng凌
yún云
。
Mount Tai is towering and majestic, its peaks seem to soar to the clouds.
Zhè这
zuò座
mó摩
tiān天
dà大
lóu楼
bá拔
dì地
ér而
qǐ起
，
gāo高
sǒng耸
líng凌
yún云
。
This skyscraper rises from the ground and towers into the clouds.
verb
to have soaring ambitions; to harbor lofty aspirations
literaryUsed metaphorically to describe one's lofty ambitions or high-flying aspirations. Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase '凌云之志' or '凌云壮志'.
Tā他
cóng从
xiǎo小
jiù就
huái怀
yǒu有
líng凌
yún云
zhuàng壮
zhì志
，
lì立
zhì志
yào要
chéng成
wéi为
yī一
míng名
yǔ宇
háng航
yuán员
。
He has harbored lofty aspirations since childhood, determined to become an astronaut.
Mò莫
qī欺
shào少
nián年
qióng穷
，
tā他
rì日
wèi未
bì必
bù不
kě可
yī一
fēi飞
líng凌
yún云
。
Don't belittle a young person for being poor; one day, they may very well soar to great heights.