奥 (ào) - Profound, deep, abstruse & mysterious

奥Tone 4

ào ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

奥 · ào

Profound, deep, abstruse;

mysterious;

used in words for 'Olympics' and 'Australia';

refers to the innermost part of a place or concept.

Profound, deep, abstrusemysteriousused in words for 'Olympics' and 'Australia'

Usage highlights

Olympic GamesProfound mysteryAustraliaAustriaAbstruse and difficult to understandInner sanctum

Synonyms

  • 深— deep (in a spatial or abstract sense)
  • 玄— mysterious, profound, abstruse

Antonyms

  • 浅— shallow, superficial
  • 显— obvious, apparent

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Olympics are held every four years (奥运会).
  • He studied the profound mysteries of the universe (奥妙).
  • Australia is known for its unique wildlife (澳大利亚).
  • The inner sanctum of the temple was off-limits (堂奥).

Collocations

  • Olympic Games(奥运会)
  • Profound mystery(奥妙)
  • Australia(澳大利亚)
  • Austria(奥地利)
  • Abstruse and difficult to understand(深奥)
  • Inner sanctum(堂奥)

Idioms

  • Profound and difficult to grasp(深奥莫测)
  • Exploring the profound and subtle(探奥索隐)
  • The mysteries of the universe(宇宙之奥)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to the southwest corner of a house, a deep, secluded place; extended to mean 'profound' or 'abstruse'.
  • Used in the translation of 'Olympic' and country names like Australia and Austria, giving it a modern, international association.
  • In classical Chinese philosophy, it can denote the profound, underlying principles of the cosmos.

FAQ