搖Tone 2

yáo ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

搖 · yáo

To shake;

to rock;

to sway;

to wave;

to oscillate;

to vibrate.

To shaketo rockto sway

Usage highlights

To shake one's headTo wag one's tailTo rock a cradleTo swing back and forthTo beckon by wavingTo shake hands

Synonyms

晃— To sway; to shake
摆— To swing; to oscillate
抖— To tremble; to shake

Antonyms

定— To fix; to stabilize
稳— Steady; stable

Usage & contexts

Examples

The baby is shaking the rattle (摇拨浪鼓).
Please wave the flag (摇旗).
The boat is rocking on the waves (船在波浪中摇).
He shook his head in disagreement (他摇头表示不同意).

Collocations

To shake one's head(摇头)
To wag one's tail(摇尾)
To rock a cradle(摇篮)
To swing back and forth(摇摆)
To beckon by waving(摇手)
To shake hands(摇手)

Idioms

To shake the earth(地动山摇)
To shake one's head and wag one's tail(摇头摆尾)
To waver and hesitate(摇摇摆摆)
To spread by word of mouth(摇唇鼓舌)
To be on the verge of collapse(摇摇欲坠)

Cultural background

The character 摇 appears in the word 摇篮 (yáolán), meaning 'cradle', symbolizing infancy and nurturing.
In traditional Chinese culture, shaking or rocking motions (摇) are often associated with uncertainty, change, or instability.
The idiom 摇旗呐喊 originally described soldiers waving flags and shouting to boost morale in battle.

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