霄 (xiāo) - Sky & firmament

霄Tone 1

xiāo ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

霄 · xiāo

Sky;

firmament;

heavens;

clouds;

refers to the highest part of the atmosphere.

Skyfirmamentheavens

Usage highlights

Clouds and skyHeavens and HanNine heavensSkyHigh as the skySky and earth

Synonyms

  • 天— sky; heaven
  • 空— sky; air
  • 云— clouds

Antonyms

  • 地— earth; ground
  • 壤— soil; earth

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The airplane flies high in the sky (云霄).
  • His ambition reaches to the heavens (霄汉).
  • The rocket soared into the firmament (九霄).
  • Clouds and mist obscure the view (霄雾).

Collocations

  • Clouds and sky(云霄)
  • Heavens and Han(霄汉)
  • Nine heavens(九霄)
  • Sky-reaching(凌霄)
  • High as the sky(霄壤)
  • Sky and earth(霄壤)

Idioms

  • As different as heaven and earth(霄壤之别)
  • Soaring to the heavens(直冲云霄)
  • Reaching for the clouds(气凌霄汉)
  • Nine heavens beyond reach(九霄云外)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese cosmology, 霄 represents the highest heavens, often associated with celestial realms and immortality.
  • Used in Daoist terminology to describe the highest levels of spiritual attainment and celestial bureaucracy.
  • Appears in classical poetry to convey lofty aspirations and transcendental beauty.

FAQ