呴 (xǔ) - To breathe upon & to exhale warm breath

呴Tone 3

xǔ ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 口

信嫣

呴 · xǔ

To breathe upon;

to exhale warm breath;

to roar;

to shout.

To breathe uponto exhale warm breathto roar

Usage highlights

Breathe warm airTiger's roarMutual assistanceExhale warmthRoar angrilyBreathe upon

Synonyms

  • 呼— to exhale, to call out
  • 嘘— to exhale slowly, to hiss
  • 吼— to roar, to shout

Antonyms

  • 吸— to inhale
  • 默— silent, quiet

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dragon breathes warm air (呴气).
  • Birds preening each other (相呴相濡).
  • The tiger roared (虎呴).

Collocations

  • Breathe warm air(呴气)
  • Tiger's roar(虎呴)
  • Mutual assistance(相呴相濡)
  • Exhale warmth(呴暖)
  • Roar angrily(呴怒)
  • Breathe upon(呴嘘)

Idioms

  • Mutually breathing on each other to keep moist(相呴相湿)
  • As fish in a dry rut, breathing on each other(呴湿濡沫)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical Chinese texts like Zhuangzi describing mutual aid among creatures.
  • Used metaphorically for mutual assistance in difficult circumstances.
  • Associated with the breathing of mythical creatures like dragons in classical literature.

FAQ