耸 (sǒng) - To tower & to stand tall

耸Tone 3

sǒng ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

耸 · sǒng

To tower;

to stand tall;

to alarm;

to startle;

to be deaf;

to be hard of hearing.

To towerto stand tallto alarm

Usage highlights

ToweringShockingLoftyTo prick up one's earsTo shrug one's shouldersMajestic and towering

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 矮— short
  • 伏— to lie prostrate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The skyscraper towers over the city (耸立).
  • His words startled everyone (耸人听闻).
  • The mountain peak stands tall and majestic (高耸入云).
  • She pretended to be deaf to the request (耸耳).

Collocations

  • Towering(耸立)
  • Shocking(耸人听闻)
  • Lofty(高耸)
  • To prick up one's ears(耸耳)
  • To shrug one's shoulders(耸肩)
  • Majestic and towering(巍然耸立)

Idioms

  • Shocking; sensational(耸人听闻)
  • Towering into the clouds(高耸入云)
  • Majestic and towering(巍然耸立)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used to describe impressive, tall structures like mountains or buildings, conveying grandeur.
  • The 'shrugging shoulders' sense (耸肩) is a common gesture indicating ignorance or indifference.
  • Can carry a negative connotation when used in '耸人听闻' (deliberately shocking or sensational).

FAQ