窈 (yǎo) - Deep and serene & quiet and secluded

窈Tone 3

yǎo ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

窈 · yǎo

Deep and serene;

quiet and secluded;

elegant and graceful;

used to describe deep, tranquil places or graceful feminine beauty.

Deep and serenequiet and secludedelegant and graceful

Usage highlights

Elegant and graceful ladyDeep and secludedQuiet and remoteDeep and darkGraceful figureSecluded beauty

Synonyms

  • 幽— secluded, quiet
  • 静— quiet, calm
  • 淑— virtuous, kind (often paired with 窈)

Antonyms

  • 喧— noisy, bustling
  • 闹— lively, noisy
  • 粗— coarse, rough

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The path leads to a secluded retreat (窈窕之处).
  • She has an elegant and graceful demeanor (窈窕淑女).
  • The cave was deep and dark (窈然深邃).
  • The forest was quiet and secluded (窈窕山林).

Collocations

  • Elegant and graceful lady(窈窕淑女)
  • Deep and secluded(窈窕深邃)
  • Quiet and remote(窈窕幽静)
  • Deep and dark(窈然)
  • Graceful figure(窈窕身姿)
  • Secluded beauty(窈窕之美)

Idioms

  • A quiet and refined young lady(窈窕淑女)
  • Deep and serene(窈窕深邃)
  • Graceful and elegant(窈窕多姿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Frequently appears in classical Chinese poetry to describe feminine beauty and secluded natural settings.
  • The phrase '窈窕淑女' from the Book of Songs is one of the most famous descriptions of ideal feminine beauty in Chinese literature.
  • Often associated with Confucian ideals of feminine virtue and grace.

FAQ