yǒng

咏

Character · VerbTraditional詠

recite; compose poetry

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 10 examples
1.

verb

to recite aloud in a slow, rhythmic tone

literary

Often used with poetic or literary connotations, paired with words like '歌' or '吟'.

Tā他
zài在
chuāng窗
qián前
yǒng咏
sòng诵
zhe着
Táng唐
shī诗
 。

He is reciting Tang poetry by the window in a rhythmic tone.

Shī诗
rén人
cháng常
yǒng咏
yín吟
yuè月
xià下
de的
měi美
jǐng景
 。

Poets often recite the beautiful scenery under the moon.

Show 3 more examples
Guó国
xué学
kè课
shàng上
 ,
xué学
shēng生
men们
yì一
qǐ起
yǒng咏
gē歌
Shī诗
jīng经
 。

In the Chinese literature class, students recited the Book of Songs together.

Lǎo老
rén人
zuò坐
zài在
téng藤
yǐ椅
shàng上
yǒng咏
sòng诵
gǔ古
wén文
 。

The old man sat on a rattan chair reciting ancient prose.

Yín吟
sòng诵
gǔ古
shī诗
shì是
Zhōng中
guó国
chuán传
tǒng统
de的
dú读
shū书
fāng方
shì式
 。

Reciting ancient poetry is a traditional Chinese way of reading.

2.

verb

to compose or praise with poetry

literary

Typically followed by a noun that is the subject of the poem, such as scenery, historical events, or people.

Gǔ古
dài代
shī诗
rén人
cháng常
yǒng咏
xuě雪
lái来
shū抒
fā发
gāo高
jié洁
de的
qíng情
huái怀
 。

Ancient poets often composed poems about snow to express their noble sentiments.

Zhè这
shǒu首
shī诗
shì是
yǒng咏
méi梅
de的
jīng经
diǎn典
zhī之
zuò作
 。

This poem is a classic work about plum blossoms.

Show 3 more examples
Lì历
shǐ史
xué学
jiā家
men们
cháng常
yǒng咏
shǐ史
lái来
fǎn反
sī思
cháo朝
dài代
xīng兴
shuāi衰
 。

Historians often compose poems about history to reflect on the rise and fall of dynasties.

Tā他
xiě写
le了
yī一
shǒu首
shī诗
yǒng咏
chūn春
 ,
zàn赞
měi美
wàn万
wù物
fù复
sū苏
de的
jǐng景
xiàng象
 。

He wrote a poem about spring, praising the scene of all things reviving.

Sòng宋
dài代
shī诗
rén人
Lù陆
Yóu游
céng曾
yǒng咏
méi梅
míng明
zhì志
 。

The Song Dynasty poet Lu You once composed a poem about plum blossoms to express his aspirations.