嗖 (sōu) - Swoosh — onomatopoeic word for the sound of & whoosh

嗖Tone 1

sōu ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

嗖 · sōu

Swoosh — onomatopoeic word for the sound of something moving quickly through the air;

whoosh;

whiz.

Swoosh — onomatopoeic word for the sound ofwhooshwhiz.

Usage highlights

swoosh soundswoosh pastwhiz byrun with a whooshwind swooshingarrow whizzing

Synonyms

  • 飕— soughing or whistling sound of wind
  • 唰— swishing or rustling sound

Antonyms

  • 慢— slow (opposite of the speed implied by 嗖)
  • 缓— gradual, unhurried

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The arrow flew past with a swoosh (嗖的一声).
  • A gust of wind came swooshing by (嗖地吹过).
  • He ran off with a whoosh (嗖地跑掉了).
  • The meteor streaked across the sky with a whizzing sound (嗖地划过天空).

Collocations

  • swoosh sound(嗖的一声)
  • swoosh past(嗖地过去)
  • whiz by(嗖地飞过)
  • run with a whoosh(嗖地跑开)
  • wind swooshing(风嗖嗖地)
  • arrow whizzing(箭嗖嗖地)

Idioms

  • Like an arrow leaving the bowstring(离弦之箭嗖的一声)
  • Swift as the wind(风嗖嗖地快)
  • Quick as lightning(快如闪电嗖地一下)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily used as an onomatopoeia in Chinese to describe swift, air-cutting sounds.
  • Commonly appears in martial arts and action literature to describe the movement of weapons or fast-moving objects.
  • Often used in comic books and children's stories to emphasize speed and sudden movement.

FAQ