yǎo

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Character · AdjectiveTraditional杳

distant; obscure; dim

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 6 examples
1.

adjective

distant and remote; far-reaching; obscure

literary

Describes physical or temporal distance, often implying lack of news or trace. Commonly used in set phrases.

Tā他
lí离
kāi开
hòu后
biàn便
yǎo杳
wú无
yīn音
xìn信
 。

After he left, there was no news from him whatsoever.

Yuǎn远
shān山
yǎo杳
yǎo杳
 ，
bái白
yún云
liáo缭
rào绕
 。

The distant mountains were remote and indistinct, wrapped in white clouds.

Show 1 more example
Guāng光
yīn阴
rěn荏
rǎn苒
 ，
wǎng往
shì事
yǎo杳
rán然
 。

Time flies swiftly, and past events have vanished into obscurity.

2.

adjective

dim; dusky; dark; gloomy

literary

Describes dim light or dark environments, often with a literary or poetic connotation.

Yǎo杳
yǎo杳
hán寒
shān山
dào道
 ，
luò落
luò落
lěng冷
jiàn涧
bīn滨
 。

Dim and gloomy is the path on cold mountain; desolate and lonely are the cold stream banks.

Tiān天
sè色
jiàn渐
wǎn晚
 ，
lín林
zhōng中
biàn变
de得
yǎo杳
àn暗
qǐ起
lái来
 。

As it grew late, the forest became dark and obscure.

Show 1 more example
Yǎo杳
míng冥
zhī之
zhōng中
 ，
fǎng仿
fú佛
yǒu有
shēng声
yīn音
chuán传
lái来
 。

In the deep darkness, it seemed as if a sound came through.