摇 (yáo) - To shake, to rock, to wave, to sway & to turn (as a crank)

摇Tone 2

yáo ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

摇 · yáo

To shake, to rock, to wave, to sway;

to turn (as a crank);

to oscillate.

To shake, to rock, to wave, to swayto turn (as a crank)to oscillate.

Usage highlights

To shake one's headTo rock the cradleTo wag one's tailTo swingTo beckon by wavingLottery

Synonyms

  • 晃— To shake, to sway
  • 摆— To swing, to oscillate
  • 抖— To tremble, to shake

Antonyms

  • 定— To fix, to settle, to stabilize
  • 稳— Steady, firm, stable

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wind shakes the trees (摇树).
  • She waved goodbye (摇手告别).
  • He turned the handle to start the machine (摇动手柄).
  • The baby rocked in the cradle (摇篮).

Collocations

  • To shake one's head(摇头)
  • To rock the cradle(摇篮)
  • To wag one's tail(摇尾)
  • To swing(摇摆)
  • To beckon by waving(摇手)
  • Lottery(摇奖)

Idioms

  • To shake the earth(地动山摇)
  • To wag the tail and beg for pity — to plead abjectly(摇尾乞怜)
  • To shake one's head and wag one's brain — to show off one's knowledge(摇头晃脑)
  • Unshakable(不可动摇)
  • To spread by word of mouth(摇唇鼓舌)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 摇 appears in the word 摇篮 (yáolán), meaning 'cradle', symbolizing origins and nurturing.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, shaking or waving (摇) can be a gesture of refusal (摇头 for 'no') or summoning (摇手).
  • The act of shaking is associated with both physical movement and metaphorical change or instability.

FAQ