嘯 (xiào) - To whistle & to howl

嘯Tone 4

xiào ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

嘯 · 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

Howling windLong roarWhistle loudlyTiger's roarWhistle gatheringRoar of the waves

Synonyms

  • 吼— to roar, shout
  • 呼— to call out, exhale
  • 嚎— to howl, wail

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wind howled through the canyon (风在山谷中呼啸).
  • The tiger roared in the forest (老虎在林中长啸).
  • He let out a long whistle (他发出一声长啸).
  • The crowd roared with excitement (人群兴奋地呼啸).

Collocations

  • Howling wind(呼啸的风)
  • Long roar(长啸)
  • Whistle loudly(呼啸)
  • Tiger's roar(虎啸)
  • Whistle gathering(啸聚)
  • Roar of the waves(海啸)

Idioms

  • Tigers roar and dragons sing(虎啸龙吟)
  • Whistle to gather a crowd(啸聚山林)
  • Howling wind and screaming arrows(风啸箭鸣)
  • Mountains roar and valleys respond(山啸谷应)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese poetry, '啸' often describes the sound of wind, tigers, or heroic figures expressing powerful emotions.
  • The act of 'whistling' or 'roaring' was sometimes associated with Taoist hermits and free-spirited individuals in ancient China.
  • In martial arts contexts, '啸' can refer to a powerful shout used to intimidate opponents or focus energy.

FAQ