揺 (yáo) - To shake & to rock

揺Tone 2

yáo ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

揺 · yáo

To shake;

to rock;

to sway;

to wave;

to wag;

to oscillate.

To shaketo rockto sway

Usage highlights

To shake one's headTo rock a cradleTo wag a tailTo swing back and forthTo wave a flagTo oscillate

Synonyms

  • 摇— To shake; to rock (standard simplified form)
  • 晃— To sway; to shake
  • 摆— To swing; to oscillate

Antonyms

  • 定— To fix; to stabilize
  • 稳— Steady; firm

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wind shakes the trees (风揺树).
  • He waved his hand (他揺手).
  • The cradle rocks gently (摇篮轻轻揺动).
  • The dog wagged its tail (狗揺尾巴).

Collocations

  • To shake one's head(揺头)
  • To rock a cradle(揺摇篮)
  • To wag a tail(揺尾巴)
  • To swing back and forth(揺摆)
  • To wave a flag(揺旗)
  • To oscillate(揺动)

Idioms

  • To shake the earth(地动山揺)
  • To be unable to hold one's ground(风雨揺摆)
  • To waver in one's resolve(心旌揺曳)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 揺 depicts a hand (扌) acting upon an object, conveying physical motion.
  • Used in contexts from gentle rocking (e.g., a cradle) to vigorous shaking.
  • Often appears in idioms describing instability or emotional wavering.

FAQ