蕭 (xiāo) - Xiao — a common Chinese surname & desolate, dreary, bleak

蕭Tone 1

xiāo ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

蕭 · xiāo

Xiao — a common Chinese surname;

desolate, dreary, bleak;

also refers to the xiao (a vertical bamboo flute).

Xiao — a common Chinese surnamedesolate, dreary, bleakalso refers to the xiao (a vertical bamboo

Usage highlights

Xiao surnamedreary and desolateXiao familyxiao flutebleak sceneXiao He

Synonyms

  • 箫— xiao flute (musical instrument)
  • 肃— solemn, respectful
  • 凉— cool, cold

Antonyms

  • 繁— flourishing, bustling
  • 闹— lively, noisy
  • 华— magnificent, splendid

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Xiao family lives nearby (萧家).
  • The autumn scene was bleak and desolate (萧瑟的秋景).
  • He plays the xiao flute beautifully (吹箫).
  • The atmosphere in the abandoned temple was dreary (萧寺).

Collocations

  • Xiao surname(萧姓)
  • dreary and desolate(萧瑟)
  • Xiao family(萧家)
  • xiao flute(箫)
  • bleak scene(萧索)
  • Xiao He(萧何 - historical figure)

Idioms

  • Everything is bleak and desolate(萧然物外)
  • The wind soughs and the rain whistles(风萧萧兮易水寒)
  • Bleak and desolate scene(萧瑟秋风)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the common Chinese surnames with historical significance, notably from the Liang dynasty of the Southern Dynasties period.
  • The character conveys a poetic sense of melancholy and autumnal beauty in classical literature.
  • Often associated with the xiao musical instrument, though the instrument uses a different character with bamboo radical (箫).

FAQ