啸 (xiào) - To whistle & to howl

啸Tone 4

xiào ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

啸 · xiào

To whistle;

to howl;

to roar;

to make a loud, shrill sound, often by the wind, animals, or humans.

To whistleto howlto roar

Usage highlights

Roaring windTiger's roarLong whistleWhistle loudlyHowl of the galeWhistling arrow

Synonyms

  • 吼— to roar, to shout
  • 嚎— to howl, to wail
  • 鸣— to chirp, to cry (of birds, animals)

Antonyms

  • 静— silent, quiet
  • 默— silent, mute

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wind howled through the valley (风声呼啸).
  • The tiger roared in the forest (虎啸山林).
  • He let out a long whistle (他发出一声长啸).
  • The crowd roared with excitement (人群发出欢呼的啸声).

Collocations

  • Roaring wind(呼啸的风)
  • Tiger's roar(虎啸)
  • Long whistle(长啸)
  • Whistle loudly(啸叫)
  • Howl of the gale(狂风怒啸)
  • Whistling arrow(鸣啸的箭)

Idioms

  • The tiger roars and the dragon sings(虎啸龙吟)
  • Howling wind and screaming dew(风啸露号)
  • A whistle that stops the traveling clouds(啸遏行云)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese poetry, '啸' often describes the sound of the wind or the cry of animals, conveying a sense of wildness, freedom, or desolation.
  • The act of 'whistling' or 'roaring' (啸) was sometimes practiced by Taoist recluses and scholars as a form of non-verbal expression to commune with nature.
  • It is frequently used in wuxia (martial arts) literature to describe the powerful cries of masters or the sounds of their techniques.

FAQ