yāo

夭

Character · Verb · AdjectiveTraditional夭（殀）

die young; lush vegetation

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

verb

to die young; to come to a premature end

Variant form 殀 is specifically used for this sense in traditional texts.

Zhè这
hái孩
zi子
bù不
xìng幸
yāo夭
zhé折
le了
 。

Unfortunately, this child died young.

Tā他
yāo夭
wáng亡
shí时
nián年
jǐn仅
èr二
shí十
suì岁
 。

He died young at only twenty years old.

Show 1 more example
Rén人
wú无
fǎ法
yù预
zhī知
zì自
jǐ己
de的
shòu寿
yāo夭
 。

One cannot predict one's own lifespan or premature death.

2.

adjective

(literary) luxuriant; lush and beautiful (of plants and flowers)

literary

Classical usage, often seen in set phrases like 夭桃秾李 from the Book of Songs.

Táo桃
zhī之
yāo夭
yāo夭
 ，
zhuó灼
zhuó灼
qí其
huá华
 。

The peach tree is young and lush, its blossoms are bright and blazing.

Yāo夭
táo桃
nóng秾
lǐ李
 ，
yí宜
qí其
shì室
jiā家
 。

Luxuriant peaches and plums, fitting for the family (describing a prosperous marriage).